Introduction
injuries of the musculoskeletal, lateral ankle sprains, re-sprains, ankle sprains
RECURRENCE
Acute lateral ankle sprains (LASs) are one of the most common injuries of the musculoskeletal system. The incidence rate in the general population is 2.15 per 1000 person-years in the US, with the highest incidence seen in patients aged between 15 and 24.Given the relatively high risk of re-sprains, effective treatment of LASs is important to prevent long-term complaints and re-sprains. Acute LASs that require medical treatment are often seen by the GP. The Dutch College of General Practitioners’ guideline for ankle sprains recommends different treatment options, such as Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation (RICE), bracing, or exercises.An 8-week unsupervised neuromuscular training programme examined in a Dutch trial among athletes was effective with a relative recurrence risk reduction of 35%.The current study therefore aimed to examine the effectiveness of an app-based unsupervised neuromuscular training programme, in addition to GP-led usual care, compared with GP-led usual care alone in patients with an acute LAS in general practice, in reducing the number of recurrent LASs.