Clinical observation of contralateral needling combined with Maitland joint mobilization for chronic ankle sprain

Objective: To observe the effect of contralateral needling to regulate tendons and circulate Qi combined with Maitland joint mobilization on ankle joint function and the peri-ankle muscle groups in patients with chronic ankle sprain. Methods: A total of 77 patients with chronic ankle sprain, meeting the inclusion criteria, were randomly divided into a control group (38 cases) and an observation group (39 cases). The control group received conventional acupuncture treatment, while the observation group received contralateral needling to regulate tendons and circulate Qi combined with joint mobilization. Both groups were treated once daily for two consecutive courses. The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scale was used to assess ankle joint function in the two groups, and the biomechanical model of skeletal muscles of lower limbs (Gait2392_simbody) was used to evaluate the muscle strength of the peri-ankle muscle groups. Results: The total effective rate in the observation group was 94.9%, significantly higher than the 79.0% in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores in both groups increased compared to their respective pre-treatment scores (P<0.05), and the scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the maximum muscle strength values of the medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius, tibialis posterior, and flexor hallucis longus in both groups increased compared to their respective pre-treatment values (P<0.05), and the values in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The maximum muscle strength values of the soleus and flexor digitorum longus in both groups decreased compared to their respective pre-treatment values (P<0.05), and the values in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The maximum muscle strength values of the extensor hallucis longus and tibialis anterior in both groups increased compared to their respective pre-treatment values (P<0.05), and the values in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The visual analog scale (VAS) score in both groups decreased compared to their respective pre-treatment score (P<0.05), and the score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Either the combined therapy (contralateral needling to regulate tendons and circulate Qi combined with joint mobilization) or the conventional acupuncture alone can alleviate pain, improve ankle joint function, and enhance the muscle strength of the peri-ankle muscle groups in patients with chronic ankle sprain, but the combined therapy shows superior efficacy.