A critical appraisal of deep oscillation therapy and its effect on decreasing pain and swelling in acute ankle sprains
Presentation Type
Abstract
Faculty Advisor
Fredrick Gardin
Access Type
Event
Start Date
25-4-2025 9:00 AM
End Date
25-4-2025 9:59 AM
Description
Background: Ankle sprains are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries, resulting in 25% of time lost in sports.The current practice of POLICE (protection, optimal loading, ice, compression, elevation) has been the gold standard for treating pain and swelling in these cases. Pain and swelling can cause decreased strength and range of motion of the ankle. Problem: The use of deep oscillation therapy has recently increased in popularity due to anecdotal evidence on managing pain and swelling, however, there is minimal published evidence putting into question the clinical effectiveness. Purpose statement: This critical appraisal examines if deep oscillation therapy can yield greater decreases in pain and swelling resulting from acute ankle sprains than traditional techniques consisting of POLICE in college-aged individuals. Study design: The PEDro database was utilized to include RCTs and systematic reviews limited to English language, studies of level 6 evidence or higher, and “edema” or a form of the word present in the title, and exclude chronic conditions. Results: There is inconclusive evidence to support the therapeutic use of deep oscillation therapy in reducing pain and swelling in patients with acute lateral ankle sprains above and beyond the current standard of care. Clinical bottom line: POLICE should remain the gold standard in the acute treatment of lateral ankle sprains, with possible benefits through the inclusion of additional strength and balance training. Additional research is needed to determine the efficacy of deep oscillation therapy.
A critical appraisal of deep oscillation therapy and its effect on decreasing pain and swelling in acute ankle sprains
Background: Ankle sprains are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries, resulting in 25% of time lost in sports.The current practice of POLICE (protection, optimal loading, ice, compression, elevation) has been the gold standard for treating pain and swelling in these cases. Pain and swelling can cause decreased strength and range of motion of the ankle. Problem: The use of deep oscillation therapy has recently increased in popularity due to anecdotal evidence on managing pain and swelling, however, there is minimal published evidence putting into question the clinical effectiveness. Purpose statement: This critical appraisal examines if deep oscillation therapy can yield greater decreases in pain and swelling resulting from acute ankle sprains than traditional techniques consisting of POLICE in college-aged individuals. Study design: The PEDro database was utilized to include RCTs and systematic reviews limited to English language, studies of level 6 evidence or higher, and “edema” or a form of the word present in the title, and exclude chronic conditions. Results: There is inconclusive evidence to support the therapeutic use of deep oscillation therapy in reducing pain and swelling in patients with acute lateral ankle sprains above and beyond the current standard of care. Clinical bottom line: POLICE should remain the gold standard in the acute treatment of lateral ankle sprains, with possible benefits through the inclusion of additional strength and balance training. Additional research is needed to determine the efficacy of deep oscillation therapy.
Comments
Poster presentation at the 2025 Student Research Symposium.