SportVis™: Faster recovery from Ankle Sprain
“I suffered a grade two lateral ankle ligament tear. Our club Physio having assessed the injury said a 4-6 weeks layoff would be required to heal and rehab the injury. I was recommended Sportvis and ultimately I got back playing in 3 weeks which I was delighted with. I would highly recommend Sportvis to any sports person.”
- Damian Hall, Complete Personal Training
- Introduction: Ankle Sprains
- Symptoms & Types of Ankle Sprains
- Sportvis Treatment Procedure vs Traditional Treatment Procedures
- Why Use Sportvis?
- Sportvis Clinical Trials
Introduction: Ankle Sprains
Ankle Sprains are one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries and are prevalent in sports which involve fast changes of direction or jumping and landing such as Hurling, Gaelic Football, Rugby, Soccer, Basketball and Tennis but can also happen during every day activities such as walking. A sprain is actually an injury to the ligaments of the ankle joint, which are elastic, band-like structures that hold the bones of the ankle joint together and prevent excess turning and twisting of the joint.
Normally, the ligaments can stretch slightly and then retract back to their usual shape and size. However, a sprain results when the ligaments of the ankle have been stretched beyond their limits. In severe sprains, the ligaments may be partially or completely torn.
Symptoms & Types of Ankle Sprains:
Tissue injury and inflammation occur when an ankle is sprained resulting in swelling, pain and redness and warmth in the surrounding area. The severity of sprains are classified in 3 different grades – see table below:
Sportvis Treatment Procedure vs Traditional Treatment Procedure
Sportvis treatment Method
Sportvis comes in the form of two injections, the first of which should be administered within 48 hours of the sprain occurring. The second injection should be given within 2-3 days of the first injection and both must be carried out by a trained medical professional. The injection is administered using a 3 dimensional fanning technique (see video below) – this technique promotes optimal conditions for healing as the damaged tissue is completely enveloped by the HA. Once injected, the Hyaluronic Acid reacts with the torn ligament, forming a “gel-like” fibrin complex which provides structural support to the soft tissue as it binds the torn fibres together.
Video demonstrating the “fanning” injection technique and other useful information:
Traditional Treatment Methods
Traditional treatment methods range from rest and the R.I.C.E. (Rest Ice Compression Elevation) standard of care to oral/topical NSAIDS , bracing and physical therapy. However, the fact is that once an ankle is sprained, it follows that the joint is significantly weakened and therefore much more susceptible to recurrence.
Consequently, traditional treatments provide effective relief in the short term but do not help to prevent recurrence of the sprain. Public perception of ankle sprains as “just a minor injury” also contributes to the problem. Dr. Robert Petrella of the University of Western Ontario, Canada, who developed Sportvis™, states that “an estimated 50 – 60% of sports people with ankle sprains do not seek professional treatment”. What many people don’t realise is that ankle sprains, if not treated properly, often result in long term problems such as re-injury, chronic instability of the joint and, in some cases, osteoarthritis.
Why Use Sportvis?
Sportvis™ is designed to effectively treat Grade 1 and Grade 2 ankle sprains. It is different because it treats the root cause of the ankle sprain rather than the symptoms. By directly targeting the torn fibres, it actively promotes and accelerates healing to help restore both structure and functionality in the ligament.
Sportvis™ is unique because it is composed of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) in the form of Soft Tissue Adapted Biocompatible Hyaluronic Acid (otherwise known as STABHA) which is a very pure form of HA and therefore biocompatible with soft tissue. Hyaluronic Acid occurs naturally in our bodies and is used by our bodies to promote soft tissue repair. Moreover, HA is a key element in moisturising, lubricating and cushioning both our joints and tissues. By flooding the site of injury with a Sportvis™ injection, the natural reserves of the body’s HA, are significantly boosted resulting in a powerful healing action that works on 3 levels simultaneously:
- it immediately contains the area of inflammation, reducing pain,
- it creates a scaffolding structure to give support and;
- it reduces the formation of scar tissue which ensures the injury will not only heal faster but better and stronger reducing the risk of injury recurrence in the long-term.
Sportvis Clinical Trial Results
In clinical trials to determine the efficacy of Sportvis™, it was proven that SportVis™ gave the majority of its patients a faster return to pain-free and disability-free sporting and daily activities – 11 versus 17 days.
Pain after walking 20m
Pain after walking 20m is significantly reduced after a treatment with SportVis.
Pain on weight bearing
Pain on weight bearing is significantly reduced after a treatment with SportVis.
SportVis™ is a registered product. Both SportVis™ and the manufacturing process for STABHA™ are patented. Sportvis™ is best used in conjunction with Rest, Ice, Compression and physiotherapy for optimum results. If you need to find a Sportvis™ trained doctor, please check out our Find a Physician page.
