The Clinical Effect of Electroacupuncture Combined with Surround Needling in the Treatment of Acute Lateral Ankle Sprain Based on Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging Technology: A Protocol for a Single-Centre, Randomized, Controlled Trial

Chen L, Hu Q, Gao H, Tang D · Journal of Pain Research · 2025 May

Objective

To investigate the efficacy of electroacupuncture combined with surround needling for acute lateral ankle sprain using musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging technology.

Conclusions

The study protocol describes a planned comparison of electroacupuncture combined with surround needling, sham electroacupuncture, and ice combined with brake rest for acute lateral ankle sprain, with efficacy assessed using Kofoed scores, musculoskeletal ultrasound quantitative measurements, and ankle circumference.

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Insights

Electroacupuncture with surround needling is being tested against sham treatment and ice-rest care using ultrasound to assess acute ankle sprain recovery.

Patients with acute lateral ankle sprains will be randomly assigned to receive electroacupuncture with surround needling, sham electroacupuncture, or ice treatment combined with restricted activity. Researchers will assess ankle function, ultrasound-based tissue measurements, and ankle swelling before treatment, after the treatment period, and during follow-up. The abstract describes a planned clinical trial and does not report treatment outcomes. Its results will compare whether electroacupuncture with surround needling produces greater improvements in ankle function, injury-related ultrasound findings, and swelling than sham treatment or ice-rest care.