Effectiveness of treatment with brace versus tape in acute lateral ankle sprains

INTERVENTION: The intervention group received instructions from the sports physician about how to use and fix the Push Med ankle brace, which is a soft brace and based on the principle of the functional tape bandage. The patients were instructed to wear the ankle brace for four weeks, except when taking a shower. The control group received ankle tape for four weeks. The tape bandage was applied by the GP, assistant, physiotherapist or the plaster technician. The tape technique was applied as usual. A new tape was provided at a maximum of two weeks after the first application by one of the mentioned persons. CONDITION: Acute lateral ankle sprain ; Injury, Occupational Diseases, Poisoning ; Sprain and strain of ankle PRIMARY OUTCOME: Risk for re‐injury based on the amount of patients reporting re‐injuries within one year SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Residual symptoms (objective and subjective); 1.1. The objective residual symptoms were swelling (yes/no), functional outcome, passive and active stability; 1.2. The subjective residual symptom was pain; 2. Dorsiflexion of the ankles was measured to determined functional outcome. Patients could have limited dorsiflexion in the injured ankle compared to the healthy ankle, no limitation in dorsiflexion, or better dorsiflexion than the healthy ankle. ; 3. Passive stability was measured with dynamic anterior ankle tester. The passive stability of both ankles could be equal, the passive stability of the injured ankle could be worse than the healthy ankle, or the passive stability of the healthy ankle could be worse than the injured ankle. ; 4. Four one leg stance tests with increasing difficulty with increasing difficulty were applied to measure active stability. The first one leg stance test was conducted with eyes open, the second with eyes closed, the third with eyes closed and knee in 45 degrees dorsiflexion, and the last, and most difficult, with eyes closed, knee in 45 degrees dorsiflexion and standing on the forefoot. Both legs were tested. Being able to stand on one leg for 15 seconds was classified as having accomplished a one lag stance test.; 5. Pain consisted of four components associated to different activities, namely walking, running, turning and jumping. Patients were classified as having pain when they reported they had pain during at least one of these activities. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. At least 18 years old 2. Diagnosed with an acute lateral ankle sprain caused by an inversion trauma 3. Had to visit one of the participating practices or emergency departments within 14 days after the inversion trauma