Functional Recovery After a Recent Lateral Ankle Sprain With Early Initiation of Rehabilitation: Changes in the Ankle-GO Score and Its Association With Return to Sport and Recurrent Sprains.

Lateral ankle sprains are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries in young adults and athletes. Although often considered minor injuries, they can result in substantial morbidity, including persistent pain, functional limitations, reduced physical activity levels, and frequent recurrences.

The literature indicates that a substantial proportion of patients experience persistent symptoms after an initial lateral ankle sprain, and approximately 20% to 40% develop chronic ankle instability. Return to sport after an ankle sprain remains insufficiently standardized and is still frequently based on time-based or subjective criteria, despite the recent emergence of international recommendations based on clinical, functional, and psychological criteria.

Current recommendations favor early functional management, including limiting immobilization, progressively resuming weight-bearing, implementing an appropriate rehabilitation program, and applying the principles of the PEACE \& LOVE protocol. Despite these recommendations, management practices remain heterogeneous in primary care and emergency departments.

To improve the assessment of functional recovery after a lateral ankle sprain, researchers have developed and subsequently validated the Ankle-GO score. This tool combines several functional tests and validated questionnaires to assess the physical and psychological dimensions of recovery, as well as readiness to return to sport.

Studies have shown that a low Ankle-GO score measured two months after a lateral ankle sprain is associated with delayed return to sport, an increased risk of recurrence, and a lower likelihood of complete functional recovery. These studies primarily assessed patients from the second month after injury onward.

To the investigator's knowledge, no study has specifically described changes in the Ankle-GO score in patients enrolled within the first few days after a sprain or investigated the potential value of assessment during the first month of follow-up.

Furthermore, several studies suggest that delayed initiation of rehabilitation may be associated with an increased risk of recurrence and less favorable functional recovery. To investigate this early recovery phase and document the actual time to rehabilitation initiation, only patients enrolled within seven days of injury will be included.

The ASGO study builds on the work of a reseracher by investigating a population enrolled within seven days of injury, a period during which early initiation of rehabilitation may influence functional recovery and the risk of recurrence.

The investigator's hypothesis is that early management following a lateral ankle sprain, combined with early initiation of functional rehabilitation after injury, is associated with better functional recovery, as assessed by the Ankle-GO score at two months.

Investigator also hypothesize that a higher Ankle-GO score at one month may be associated with a faster return to sport and a lower risk of recurrence during follow-up. This hypothesis is based on the findings of a researcher, who showed that a higher Ankle-GO score at two months was associated with better return-to-sport outcomes and a reduced risk of recurrence following a lateral ankle sprain.