PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - M Van Reijen
AU  - I Vriend
AU  - V Zuidema
AU  - W van Mechelen
AU  - E A Verhagen
TI  - Increasing compliance with neuromuscular training to prevent ankle sprain in sport: does the ‘Strengthen your ankle’ mobile App make a difference? A randomised controlled trial
AID  - 10.1136/bjsports-2015-095290
DP  - 2016 Oct 01
TA  - British Journal of Sports Medicine
PG  - 1200--1205
VI  - 50
IP  - 19
4099  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/50/19/1200.short
4100  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/50/19/1200.full
SO  - Br J Sports Med2016 Oct 01; 50
AB  - Background E-health has the potential to facilitate implementation of effective measures to prevent sports injuries.Aim We evaluated whether an interactive mobile application containing a proven effective exercise programme to prevent recurrent ankle sprains resulted in higher compliance as compared with regular written exercise materials.Methods 220 athletes participated in this randomised controlled trial with a follow-up of 8 weeks; 110 athletes received a booklet explaining an 8-week neuromuscular training programme; 110 athletes participated in the same programme in an interactive mobile App (Strengthen your ankle). The primary outcome was compliance with the exercise programme. Secondary outcome measure was the incidence density of self-reported recurrent ankle sprains.Results The mean compliance to the exercise scheme was 73.3% (95% CI 67.7% to 78.1%) in the App group, compared with 76.7% (95% CI 71.9% to 82.3%) in the Booklet group. No significant difference in compliance was found between groups. The incidence densities of self-reported time-loss recurrences were not significantly different between both groups (HR 3.07; 95% CI 0.62 to 15.20).Summary This study shows that the method of implementing the exercises by using an App or a Booklet does not lead to different compliance rates.New findings The use of a mobile App or a Booklet lead to similar compliance and injury rates in the short term.Trial registration number The Netherlands National Trial Register NTR 4027. The NTR is part of the WHO Primary Registries.