BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of high-voltage pulsed current (HVPC) treatments in humans as a means of controlling edema and post-traumatic pain has not yet been established. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of HVPC plus conventional treatment on lateral ankle sprains. METHODS: This was a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial with three intervention groups: CG (control group with conventional treatment); HVPC- group (conventional treatment plus negative polarity HVPC); HVPC+ group (conventional treatment plus positive polarity HVPC). Twenty-eight participants with lateral ankle sprain (2 to 96 h post-trauma) were evaluated. Conventional treatment consisted of cryotherapy (20 min) plus therapeutic exercises. Additionally, the HVPC- and HVPC+ groups received 30 min of electrical stimulation (submotor level; 120 pps). Pain, edema, range of motion (ROM) and gait were assessed before the first treatment session and after the last treatment session. RESULTS: At the final evaluation, there were no significant differences between groups. Nevertheless, the HVPC- group had greater values in all assessed parameters. The data analysis showed that the HVPC- group had greater reductions in volume and girth, and greater recovery of ROM and gait velocity. This group also reached the end of the treatment (1.7 weeks; range 1.2 to 2.2) faster than the HVPC+ group and the CG (2.2 weeks; range 1.8 to 2.6). CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences between the study groups, but the results suggest that HVPC- can accelerate the initial phase of recovery from ankle sprain. Article registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov under the number NCT00732017.

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