| Netball | best-practice recommendations |
---|---|---|
Treatment and rehabilitation | The evidence suggests a minority of netball athletes who sustain an ankle sprain or injury are referred to a health professional. Composite treatment was most commonly undertaken by community-level netball athletes following an ankle injury. Injury advice and home exercise programs were commonly provided. Ice and rest, in isolation or combination, were prescribed less often | Rehabilitation-Oriented Assessment (ROAST) [68] (1) Self-reported pain (NPS or FADI); (2) Ankle joint swelling (FEM); (3) Ankle ROM (WBLT or A-SEBT); (4) Talocrural joint arthrokinematics (PTGT); (5) Muscle strength (hand-held dynamometry); (6) Static postural balance (BESS or FLT); (7) Dynamic postural balance (SEBT); (8) Gait (Visual Assessment); (9) Pre-injury physical activity level (Tegner Scale); (10) Patient-reported outcome measures (FADI or FAAM) |
Perceptual-Interdependence Framework [69] NICE – NSAIDs, ice, compression, and elevation EASY—external ankle support for at least 12 months following injury Optimal Loading—early commencement of ankle–foot mobilisation Exercise Rehabilitation—balance and coordination exercise program | ||
Return to sport | Early return to sport following ankle sprains and injuries were consistently reported across all studies in netball. Up to three-in-four netball athletes returned to court immediately following an ankle sprain. Time-loss following an ankle sprain varied across studies. All netball athletes were able to return to court within 4Â weeks of their injury. Most were able to return within one or two matches following their ankle sprain. No studies reported whether netball athletes undertook to return to sport testing and/or received medical clearance before returning to netball | PAASS Framework [73] (P) Pain severity (during sports participation and over the last 24Â h); (A) Ankle impairments (ROM, strength, endurance and power); (A) Athlete perception (perceived confidence/reassurance, stability & psychological readiness); (S) Sensorimotor control (proprioception & dynamic postural control/balance; (S) Sport/functional performance (hopping, jumping, agility, sport-specific activities & ability to complete a full training session) |