A prospective, randomized clinical investigation of the treatment of first-time ankle sprains.

Background: Acute ankle ligament sprains are treated with the use of controlled mobilization with protection provided by external support (eg, functional treatment); however, there is little information regarding the best type of external support to use.

Hypothesis: There is no difference between elastic wrapping, bracing, bracing combined with elastic wrapping, and casting for treatment of acute, first-time ankle ligament sprains in terms of the time a patient requires to return to normal function.

Study Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial; Level of evidence, 1.

A neural network approach to motor-sensory relations during postural disturbance.

This study explored whether artificial neural networks (ANN) can be used to quantify the motor-sensory relationship during postural disturbance. An ANN model was constructed with seven mechanical stimuli to the visual, vestibular and somatosensory systems (i.e.

Validity and reliability of an internet-based temporal gait assessment tool with healthy adults: a pilot study.

Objectives: To assess in healthy adults the validity and the inter- and intrarater reliability of the Internet-based Shaw Gait Assessment (SGA).

Design: Concurrent test-retest reliability and validity study with participants, 4 raters, and the Elite motion analysis system (used as the criterion standard).

Setting: Motion analysis laboratory in a university physical therapy department.

Radiographic measurement of anterior talar translation in the ankle: determination of the most reliable method.

Background: Although most would agree that stress radiography is an important research tool to evaluate the integrity of the ankle ligaments in studies of chronic ankle instability, there is little agreement with regard to the best technique to make these measurements. The primary objective of this study was to establish the most reliable method for measuring anterior displacement of the talus relative to the tibia using stress radiographs of the ankle. This information is necessary to standardize radiographic evaluation of injured ankles and for biomechanical studies of the ankle joint, but has never been investigated.

Comparison of three lumbar orthoses using motion assessment during task performance.

Study Design: Four conditions (three orthoses, one no orthosis), full cross-over, randomized order, 12 subjects tested 3 months after a lumbar surgical arthrodesis.

Objectives: To assess whole torso and lumbar motions and comfort for each orthoses condition during performance of activities of daily living.

Summary Of Background Data: Previous noninvasive studies measured whole torso (not just lumbar) movement.