Table 2 Section III: consensus statements

Statements about assessment

1) The clinical assessment of damage to the ligaments after an ankle sprain should be performed within 24 hours from the trauma. (Reversed statement)

2) In case of suspected fracture of the ankle or the foot, it is not recommended to apply the Ottawa ankle rules. (Reversed statement)

3) During the anamnesis it is important to assess previous events of ankle sprains.

4) In front of a second episode of lateral ankle sprain it is never necessary to apply the Ottawa ankle rules. (Reversed statement)

5) Physiotherapists should incorporate functional outcome measures such as the FAAM (Foot and Ankle Ability Measure), as part of the examination of people with ankle sprain.

Statements about treatment

6) In front of recurrent ankle sprains, the clinician should recommend to follow a therapeutic exercise programme for coordination and balance for at least 1 year from the trauma.

7) The brace has a role in the prevention of recurrent lateral ankle sprains events.

8) At list one of the following treatment modalities is strongly recommended for the management of patients with ankle sprain during the acute phase: ultrasound, laser therapy, electrotherapy, diathermy. (Reversed statement)

9) In the treatment of people with an ankle sprain, clinicians should use manual therapy procedures, such as lymphatic drainage, joint and soft tissue mobilisation.

10) For people with severe ankle sprains, physiotherapists should implement rehabilitation programmes that include therapeutic exercises.

11) When evaluating the results of the rehabilitation programme for an ankle sprain, physiotherapists should plan a follow-up until one year since the trauma.