NCT07190599

NMES With PNF for Ankle Sprain Rehabilitation

Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Combined With Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in Adults With a History of Ankle Sprain

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Fooyin University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 30 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Ankle sprains are one of the most common sports injuries. In some people, they can lead to chronic ankle problems that affect daily life and sports performance. In this study, we want to see if combining neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) can help improve these problems. We plan to recruit 60 participants, with 30 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. The experimental group will receive PNF stretching with NMES, while the control group will only do PNF stretching. Both groups will have training three times a week for four weeks (12 sessions in total). We will test participants before and after the program, looking at pain, balance, range of motion, proprioception, strength, joint mobility, and functional limitations. We expect that 12 sessions will help improve chronic ankle problems, and that NMES combined with PNF will be more effective than PNF alone.

Conditions

• Ankle Sprain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)	The NMES was applied during the plantarflexor contraction phase of the PNF stretching (described as below). Two electrodes (4 × 8 cm) were used for stimulation, placed on the triceps surae of the affected side: one positioned 5 cm below the popliteal fossa, and the other placed 5 cm below the first electrode, directly over the triceps surae. The hold-relax technique of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) will be applied to stretch the triceps surae muscle. It will be performed ten times on the affected limb during each treatment session, lasting approximately 10 minutes in total. Participants will receive interventions three times per week for four weeks, for a total of twelve sessions.
BEHAVIORAL	Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) only	The hold-relax technique will be applied to stretch the triceps surae muscle. It will be performed ten times on the affected limb during each treatment session, lasting approximately 10 minutes in total. Participants will receive interventions three times per week for four weeks, for a total of twelve sessions.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-10-01
• Primary completion: 2026-03-31
• Completion: 2026-07-31
• First posted: 2025-09-24
• Last updated: 2025-11-17

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Taiwan