Vol. 9, Issue 3, Part A (2025)

Minor ankle sprains are among the most frequently reported musculoskeletal injuries in young adults, often resulting in pain, reduced mobility, and temporary functional limitations despite being categorized as low-severity lesions. Although conventional physiotherapy has long served as the primary approach for restoring joint stability and proprioception, adherence to exercise routines remains a significant challenge among young individuals leading busy lifestyles. With the rapid advancement of mobile health (mHealth) technology, smartphone-guided rehabilitation applications have emerged as accessible, cost-effective tools capable of delivering structured exercise programmes, reminders, real-time feedback, and progression monitoring. However, the empirical evidence supporting their effectiveness in improving functional recovery after minor ankle sprains in young adults remains limited. This research aims to evaluate the outcomes of a smartphone-guided rehabilitation protocol in comparison with traditional paper-based home exercise instructions. The central hypothesis is that smartphone-guided rehabilitation will result in better adherence, enhanced proprioceptive recovery, and faster return to normal daily activities. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted, involving participants aged 18-25 who experienced grade I or mild grade II lateral ankle sprains and were assigned to either a smartphone-guided rehabilitation group or a standard-care group. Functional outcomes were measured using pain scales, balance assessments, mobility scores, and adherence tracking. The findings demonstrated that participants using smartphone-guided rehabilitation exhibited higher adherence, reduced pain scores, and improved balance measures compared with those receiving conventional instructions, confirming the positive utility of mobile-based rehabilitation models for minor ankle injuries.