ABSTRACT
Inversion injury of the ankle is one of the most commonly occurring acute injuries in The Netherlands (Van der Ent, 1984). Injury of the lateral ligaments of the ankle joint is for instance frequently seen in football players reporting to the Emergency Ward of the MCA. Treatment of ankle ligament injury is an issue still subject to discussion. Although some still passionately defend the surgical approach (Ahrend and Pollahne, 1989; Bar and Tausch, 1988; Jaskulka et al., 1988), a number of well implemented randomised prospective studies (Cramer and Friedhoff, 1990; Klein et al., 1988; Sommer and Arza, 1989) have led to a current preference for early functional treatment of acute distortion of the ankle. This is linked with the fact that the results of this treatment are as good as, if not better than, surgical treatment, the lower health care costs and t h e convenience for the patient (no hospital admission, a more rapid recommencement of work and sports) being additional factors in favour of conservative treatment. The most frequently applied method in The Netherlands is taping of the ankle, using Coumans' bandaging method (Cramer and Friedhoff, 1990; Van Moppes and Van den Hoogenband, 1982). This reliable and popular method does, however, have some disadvantages; taping requires some skill and is time-consuming, the tape has to remain in position day and night and can cause irritation of the skin. The application and changing of the tape is usually performed as second-line medical care, which is rather expensive.
