Clinical effect of foot-ankle balance massage combined with herbal fumigation in the treatment of acute ankle sprain

Hongzhou LI; Haoqiang SUN; Weifeng PAN

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To explore the clinical curative effect of foot-ankle balance massage combined with herbal fumigation on acute ankle sprain.

Methods:

According to random number table method, 62 patients with acute ankle sprain meeting the inclusion criteria in the hospital were divided into control group and observation group between January 2018 and January 2021, 31 in each group. The control group was treated with foot-ankle balance massage, while the observation group added herbal fumigation treatment on the basis of the control group treatment. Both were treated for 7 days. The pain degree was evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The pain sites of ankle joint were evaluated by Kofoed ankle scale. The recovery of ankle and foot function was evaluated by American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS). The levels of plasma substance P, neuropeptide, nerve growth factor (NGF), IL-1β, IL-6 and hs-CRP were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The clinical curative effect was assessed.

Results:

The differences in total response rate between observation group and control group were statistically significant [96.8% (30/31) vs. 77.4% (24/31)] ( χ 2=5.17, P=0.023). At 1st day, 3rd day and 7th day after treatment, VAS scores in observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t=4.86, 5.19, 3.86, P<0.01), Kofoed scores were significantly higher than those in the control group ( t=2.03, 2.58, 2.46, P<0.05), and AOFAS pain scores were significantly higher than those in the control group ( t=2.61, 2.47, 4.90, P<0.05). After treatment, levels of substance P [(2.94±0.91) mg/L vs. (3.69±0.94) mg/L, t=3.19], neuropeptide [(141.06±16.31) ng/L vs. (165.22±17.63) ng/L, t=3.16] and NGF [(43.65±10.15) ng/L vs. (52.26±10.20) ng/L, t=3.33] in observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01), and levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and hs-CRP were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t=2.60, 2.64, 2.42, P<0.05).

Conclusion:

The foot-ankle balance massage combined with herbal fumigation can quickly relieve pain, increase levels of pain substances, reduce levels of inflammatory cytokines and improve curative effect in patients with acute ankle sprains.