Is Proprioceptive Training Effective During the Acute Rehabilitation Period of Danis-Weber Type B Ankle Fractures?

Abstract

Backgrounds: Ankle fractures of Danis-Weber type B represent common lower limb injuries. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of standard physical therapy and proprioception training during the acute rehabilitation period.

Materials and methods: The study group comprised 38 patients with Danis-Weber type B ankle fractures during the acute rehabilitation period in 2022-2023. All patients underwent surgery and were randomized into: Group I (18 patients), who received a rehabilitation program that included standard physiotherapy and proprioceptive exercises, and Group II (20 patients), who received a rehabilitation program of standard physiotherapy only.

Results: Before the start of rehabilitation, AOFAS scores were 33.910.4 in Group I and 21.38.9 in Group II. At the end of the study, scores were 67.626.1 and 38.57.8, respectively. In contrast, the FADI scores were almost identical at beginning (11.62.4 vs. 11.452.4). At the end of the study, there was a small but significant improvement in Group II, with scores of 37.05.4 compared to 32.55.4 in Group I. The barotensometric indicators at the beginning of the intervention were not significantly different between the groups.

Conclusions: 1. Incorporating proprioception stimulation training during the acute rehabilitation period may offer some advantages in enhancing ankle and foot function following a Danis-Weber type B ankle fracture. 2. It may be beneficial to perform prolonged monitoring to develop an evidence-based approach to rehabilitation strategy after ankle fractures.