NMES With PNF for Ankle Sprain Rehabilitation

NCT ID: NCT07190599

Last Updated: 2025-11-17

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 60 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-10-01
• Study Completion Date: 2026-07-31

Brief Summary

Ankle sprains are one of the most common sports injuries. In some people, they can lead to chronic ankle problems that affect daily life and sports performance. In this study, we want to see if combining neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) can help improve these problems. We plan to recruit 60 participants, with 30 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. The experimental group will receive PNF stretching with NMES, while the control group will only do PNF stretching. Both groups will have training three times a week for four weeks (12 sessions in total). We will test participants before and after the program, looking at pain, balance, range of motion, proprioception, strength, joint mobility, and functional limitations. We expect that 12 sessions will help improve chronic ankle problems, and that NMES combined with PNF will be more effective than PNF alone.

Conditions

Ankle Sprain

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

NMES with PNF

The experimental group will receive proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The NMES was applied during the plantarflexor contraction phase of the PNF stretching (described as below). Two electrodes (4 × 8 cm) were used for stimulation, placed on the triceps surae of the affected side: one positioned 5 cm below the popliteal fossa, and the other placed 5 cm below the first electrode, directly over the triceps surae. The hold-relax technique of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) will be applied to stretch the triceps surae muscle. It will be performed ten times on the affected limb during each treatment session, lasting approximately 10 minutes in total. Participants will receive interventions three times per week for four weeks, for a total of twelve sessions.

PNF only

The control group will receive PNF stretching only.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) only

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The hold-relax technique will be applied to stretch the triceps surae muscle. It will be performed ten times on the affected limb during each treatment session, lasting approximately 10 minutes in total. Participants will receive interventions three times per week for four weeks, for a total of twelve sessions.

Interventions

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)

The NMES was applied during the plantarflexor contraction phase of the PNF stretching (described as below). Two electrodes (4 × 8 cm) were used for stimulation, placed on the triceps surae of the affected side: one positioned 5 cm below the popliteal fossa, and the other placed 5 cm below the first electrode, directly over the triceps surae. The hold-relax technique of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) will be applied to stretch the triceps surae muscle. It will be performed ten times on the affected limb during each treatment session, lasting approximately 10 minutes in total. Participants will receive interventions three times per week for four weeks, for a total of twelve sessions.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) only

The hold-relax technique will be applied to stretch the triceps surae muscle. It will be performed ten times on the affected limb during each treatment session, lasting approximately 10 minutes in total. Participants will receive interventions three times per week for four weeks, for a total of twelve sessions.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Aged 18-30 years
• Adults with a history of ankle sprain

Exclusion Criteria

• Participants with ankle fractures, dislocations, grade III ankle sprains, bony restrictions, swelling, neuropathy, or any other neuromuscular disorders are excluded.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 30 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Fooyin University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

Fooyin University

Kaohsiung City, No. 151, Jinxue Road, Daliao District, Taiwan

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Taiwan

Central Contacts

I-Hsuan Chen

Role: CONTACT

Y0894@fy.edu.tw

886-7-7811151 #7043

Facility Contacts

I-Hsuan Chen

Role: primary

Y0894@fy.edu.tw

+886-7-781-1151#7043

Other Identifiers

NCKU HREC-E-114-0093-2

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id