Noninvasive Interactive Neurostimulation Therapy for the Treatment of Low-Grade Lateral Ankle Sprain in the Professional Contact Sport Athlete Improves the Short-Term Recovery and Return to Sport: A Randomized Controlled Trial

61 patients with lateral ankle sprain were randomized to receive manual recovery of range of motion and proprioceptive exercises alongside either non-invasive interactive neurostimulation (NIN) therapy or sham NIN therapy. Outcomes of interest included the inability walking scale (IWS), pain on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), etoricoxib 60mg daily intake, return to sport and complications. Follow up was performed up to 4 months post-operation. Results revealed significantly favourable IWS scores after 5 sessions and 30 days post-treatment, VAS pain scores 30 days post-treatment, etoricoxib daily intake after 10 sessions and 30 days post-treatment, and proportion of patients returning to sport after 2 months in the NIN group compared to the sham group. No cases of complication were observed in either group.