Supervised Rehabilitation Versus Home Exercise in the Treatment of Acute Ankle Sprains: A Systematic Review

4 randomized control trials with 322 patients were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis which assessed benefits of supervised rehabilitation programs compared to unsupervised home exercise programs for patients with acute lateral ankle sprains. Studies were selected if they analyzed subjective outcomes such as ankle sprain recurrence, or objective measures such as range of motion. Results indicated quicker short-term recovery rates with supervised rehabilitation, although no significant differences between the two methods were seen long-term. Results on 1-year recurrence were inconsistent between included studies. Overall, only a small percentage of acute lateral ankle sprain patients from the general population are treated with supervised rehabilitation following the injury.