AFTER Study

About the Study

The University of Oxford is the lead centre for the study, and the day to day running of the study is being completed by Oxford Trauma, a research group of the Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences.

Current enrolment curve

Recruitment target: 344

Information about the Study

Treatment

The AFTER Study is trying to find out if attending physiotherapy after an ankle fracture really does help improve recovery.

Study Funder

The study is funded by the Department of Health (National Institute for Health and Care Research – Research for Patient Benefit (NIHR201950)) and is the work of Physiotherapists across the UK, with research support from The University of Oxford.

Study Sponsor

The University of Oxford is the lead centre and sponsor for this study.

Study Design

AFTER is a multi-centre, parallel-group, superiority individually randomised controlled study assessing the clinical effectiveness of supervised versus self-directed rehabilitation in improving ankle function for people aged 50 years and over after an ankle fracture. The study will be conducted at secondary care trauma departments in a minimum of 20 NHS hospitals and their related physiotherapy services.

Personal Data

Personal details will be held by the research team at the University of Oxford. All information that is collected during the course of the research will be used and stored in accordance with the current data protection legislation.

Things to Know

There is currently no scientific evidence showing that seeing a physiotherapist after an ankle fracture improves recovery.

Study team

The research team for the AFTER Study has a lot of experience in caring for patients with fracture injuries and are active in health research. Members of the public have also been involved in the development of this study, and are involved in the management.