Study of the efficacy of the Mulligan's Movement with Mobilization and Taping Technique as an Adjunct to the Conventional Therapy for Lateral Ankle Sprain

This study was designed to assess the efficacy of the Mulligan's Movement with mobilization & taping technique in functional recovery of lateral ankle sprain when used as an adjunct to conventional therapy & thus establish the role of the hypothesis of positional fault in lateral ankle sprain.

Cohort study involving 30 patients diagnosed with grade 1 & 2 lateral ankle sprain divided randomly in 2 groups of 15, one control group & another experimental group.

Control group received conventional therapy which involved RICE or ultrasound & home exercise program according to the stage of healing, while experimental group received Mulligan's MWM & taping along with conventional therapy. Duration of the treatment was 6 days or till VAS on walking reduces to 1.

VAS on walking & tender point palpation showed significantly greater reduction in experimental group (p<0.01) than control group. Duration of Single Leg Stance improved to significantly greater extent (p<0.005) in experimental group, while the duration of the treatment was found to be reduced significantly when Mulligan's technique was used.

When Mulligan's ankle technique & fibular taping is used along with the conventional therapy, there is a faster functional recovery. This study highlights the importance of positional fault concept in clinical practice.