OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy of ultrasound treatment in the management of acute lateral ligament sprains of the ankle joint. DESIGN: Single-blind randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Physiotherapy Department of St Luke's Hospital, Malta. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-four patients with acute lateral ligament sprains of the ankle joint presenting to the Accident and Emergency Department of St Luke's Hospital, Malta were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: active ultrasound treatment group (n = 12); placebo ultrasound treatment group (n = 10); no ultrasound treatment group (n = 12). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain (visual analogue scale), swelling (tape measure), range of motion during dorsiflexion and plantarflexion (universal 360 degrees goniometer), and postural stability (balance error scoring system) were measured on days 1 (baseline), 8, 15 and 22. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences (a = 0.05) between treatment groups were detected in any outcome measure. Within treatment groups, statistically significant differences (a = 0.05) were detected in pain, swelling, range of motion during dorsiflexion and plantarflexion, and postural stability. CONCLUSIONS: At the dose and duration used, ultrasound treatment does not increase the effectiveness of management of acute lateral ligament sprains of the ankle joint, with respect to the following outcomes: pain, swelling, range of motion during dorsiflexion and plantarflexion, and postural stability.

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