Study on the Effect of Resistance Band Exercise Combined with Balance Function Enhancement on Postoperative Rehabilitation and Inflammatory Improvement in Patients with Ankle Fracture

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-3245.2025.06.036

Abstract：Objective: To explore the effect of resistance band exercise combined with balance function enhancement on postoperative rehabilitation in patients with ankle fracture. Methods: A total of 102 patients with ankle fracture treated at Nantong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March 2021 to March 2024 were selected and randomly divided into control group and observation group using a prospective study and random number table method, with 51 cases in each group. The control group received balance training plus mechanical traction, while the observation group added resistance band training on top of the control group's treatment. The joint function, joint range of motion, compliance with postoperative functional exercise, joint swelling and pain, levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), as well as adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results: After treatment, all indicators including joint function, joint range of motion, compliance with postoperative functional exercise, joint swelling and pain, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels showed significant improvement in both groups compared to pre-treatment (P<0.05). Between-group comparison showed that the observation group had higher Baird-Jackson scores (79.55±3.95), foot and ankle ability measure (FAAM) scores (80.35±7.86), and American orthopaedic foot and ankle society (AOFAS) ankle-posterior score (80.31±4.21) than the control group, with statistically significant differences (t=13.195, 4.890, 12.800, P<0.05). The dorsiflexion angle (16.64°±1.83°) and plantarflexion angle (32.62°±2.34°) of the observation group were also higher than those of the control group, with statistically significant differences (t=9.719, 17.280, P<0.05). The compliance rate of postoperative functional exercise in the observation group was 98.04% (50/51), which was higher than that of the control group (χ²=13.429, P<0.05). The ankle circumference (231.64±14.47 mm) and visual analogue scale (VAS) score (2.11±0.95) of the observation group were lower than those of the control group, with statistically significant differences (t=2.989, 6.195, P<0.05). The levels of IL-1β (4.87±1.93 pg/mL), IL-6 (6.85±2.14 pg/mL), and TNF-α (7.91±1.63 pg/mL) in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (t=6.435, 3.658, 8.205, P<0.05), and the incidence of adverse reactions was 3.92% (2/51), which was lower than 19.60% (10/51) in the control group, with statistically significant differences (χ²=6.044, P<0.05). Conclusion: Resistance band exercise combined with balance function enhancement has a significant effect on postoperative rehabilitation in patients with ankle fracture, which can significantly improve joint function and range of motion, relieve joint swelling and pain, reduce inflammatory factor levels, and decrease the occurrence of adverse reactions.