In 2013, Rashid, et. al., conducted study about Rehabilitation which plays a pivotal role in restoring mobility and reducing pain for individuals suffering from post-traumatic stiff ankles. Physiotherapists often employ mobilization techniques to address these issues. A recent study conducted at the Sajid Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Center in Multan sought to determine whether the addition of Paraffin Wax Bath to these techniques could enhance their efficacy.

This randomized controlled trial involved 37 patients with post-traumatic stiff ankles, recruited between March 2011 and February 2013. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (19 patients) received mobilization techniques along with Paraffin Wax Bath, while Group B (18 patients) was treated with mobilization techniques alone. Inclusion criteria encompassed patients aged 20-60 years with symptoms including pain, loss of range of motion (ROM), and a history of ankle trauma or fracture. Patients who had undergone surgical treatment were excluded. The study assessed improvement using the Escola Paulista de Medicina Range of Motion (EPM-ROM) scale and the visual analogue scale (VAS). After ten weeks of treatment, orthopedic surgeons and physiotherapists re-evaluated the patients for symptoms and ROM. Statistical analysis was carried out using the t-test, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.

Both groups underwent ten weeks of treatment. Group A consisted of 12 male and 7 female patients, while Group B had 10 male and 8 female patients. At the outset, the baseline characteristics of both groups were similar. Deficits in dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, inversion, eversion, pain, and stiffness were measured both before and after treatment. Notably, both groups experienced significant pain relief (p = 0.001). Furthermore, group A exhibited significantly increased dorsiflexion (p = 0.001) and plantarflexion (p = 0.001) compared to group B. Functional movement also improved, with group A showing greater improvements in inversion (p = 0.001) and eversion (p = 0.001) than group B. The study concluded that the combination of mobilization techniques and wax bath therapy yielded substantial improvements in range of motion, clinical status, and functional outcomes. In contrast, wax bath therapy alone had no significant impact. The t-test analysis post-intervention confirmed the significance, with p-values ranging from 0.001 to 0.004 in group A and 0.104 to 0.168 in group B, all below the 0.05 significance level.

This study underscores the effectiveness of joint mobilization techniques and wax bath therapy in improving the symptoms and quality of life for individuals suffering from post-traumatic stiff ankles. Notably, combining these techniques yielded superior results compared to wax therapy alone. This breakthrough in rehabilitation techniques holds promise for enhancing the recovery of individuals with post-traumatic ankle injuries and stiffness.

Reference: Rashid, S., Salick, K., Ahmad, A., & Sarwar, K. (2013). To evaluate the efficacy of Mobilization Techniques in Post-Traumatic stiff ankle with and without Paraffin Wax Bath. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 29(6), 1406.