Plaster cast now recommended for sprains

In a study published in The Lancet, the new advice for a sprained ankle is to treat it using a below-knee plaster cast. This is contrary to the old advice, which was a tubular bandage and to keep moving.

Researchers looked at 600 people who were treated using a below-knee plaster cast, applied for 10 days, instead of a tubular bandage recovered faster and experienced less pain and discomfort.

Follow-up three months later showed better activity levels and less residual pain.

The Bledsoe boot - another type of brace which is designed to restrict movement of the ankle but allow users to walk - was no more effective than a tubular bandage and neither can be recommended as a treatment for these injuries, the researchers said.

However, by nine months there was no difference between the groups.

Researchers are now recommending a plaster cast as standard treatment, because although there is no difference at nine months, people want to recover fast.