(Ivanhoe Newswire) – The fastest recovery from ankle sprain starts below the knee.

New research shows immobilization in a below-knee cast or an Aircast brace allows severe ankle sprains to heal faster and with fewer secondary complications compared to tubular compression bandages (TCB) or a Bledsoe boot.

Patients provided with one of three treatment methods were followed for nine months after the initial injury. At three months, researchers noted an improvement of nine percent in terms of ankle function and a reduction of pain, symptoms and activity in patients treated with below the knee air casts, compared to TCB. Bledose boots were no more effective than TCB. However, at the nine-month follow-up, researchers noted no significant difference between the three treatment methods.

"Contrary to popular clinical opinion, a period of immobilization was the most effective strategy for promoting rapid recovery,” the authors wrote. “Tubular compression bandage, which is currently the most commonly used of all the supports investigated, was, consistently, the worst treatment … Thus we recommend the use of a 10-day below knee cast for the management of severe ankle sprains, or alternatively, an Aircast brace. Neither tubular compression bandage nor the Bledsoe boot are recommended.”

SOURCE: The Lancet, 2009