Mobile app for recovery guidance in children with ankle sprains

A Mobile Recovery Guidance App for Children and Young Adults With Acute Ankle Inversion Injuries: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Not applicable Interventional London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's · NCT05785533

This study is testing whether a smartphone app can help kids and young adults recover better from ankle sprains compared to just using a paper handout.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment250 (estimated)
Ages12 Years to 30 Years
SexAll
SponsorLondon Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's Academic / other
Locations1 site (London, Ontario)
Trial IDNCT05785533 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a smartphone app designed to provide recovery guidance for children and young adults with acute ankle inversion injuries. Participants will be randomly assigned to either use the app, which offers educational resources and daily management reminders, or receive standard care through a paper handout. The goal is to determine if the app leads to better functional outcomes, such as reduced pain and improved mobility, compared to traditional methods. The study focuses on a demographic that frequently experiences ankle sprains, aiming to enhance recovery through personalized guidance.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are children and young adults aged 12-30 who have recently sustained a unilateral acute ankle injury.

Not a fit: Patients with developmental disabilities or those unable to independently walk prior to their injury may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this app could significantly improve recovery times and functional outcomes for young patients with ankle sprains.

How similar studies have performed: While mobile health applications have shown promise in other areas of healthcare, this specific approach for ankle sprains is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 12-30 years
* Presenting to the Paediatric Emergency Department of the Children's Hospital or Adult Emergency Department, London Health Sciences Centre, London, or ntario, St. Joseph Urgent Care Centre, London, Ontario, with a unilateral acute (\<= 48 hours) ankle injury based on clinical diagnosis by ED physician
* Able to use a WiFi enabled smartphone with either an iOS or Android operating system with enough memory capability to host the App.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unable to read or understand English above at least a grade 8 literacy level in the absence of a native language interpreter
* Not independently ambulatory prior to injury (without the use of an assistive device)
* Developmental disability precluding the full comprehension of study-related procedures
* Multi-system or multi-limb injuries
* Concomitant radiographically proven lower extremity fracture or dislocation (with the exception of a suspected Salter-Harris type I injury)

Where this trial is running

London, Ontario

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Ankle SprainsAnkle inversion injuryMobile appRecovery guidance
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.