The Effect of Exercise Therapy and Healing on Ankle Injuries, Indicated by a Reduction in Pain and Anxiety in Recreational Runners

Running is a very popular sport worldwide, but when done randomly and haphazardly, it carries the risk of injury. One of the lower extremity injuries that can occur in runners is ankle injury. Ankle injury in runners is characterized by discomfort in the ankle, the onset of pain, and increased anxiety in recreational runners. This study aims to determine the effect of exercise therapy and healing on ankle injuries, as indicated by a reduction in pain and anxiety in recreational runners. This study uses a quasi-experimental approach with a One Group Pretest-Posttest Design with a control group. Data collection techniques used tests and measurements with VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) to measure pain levels and the PSS-10 (Perceived Stress Scale) questionnaire to measure anxiety levels. The population in this study consisted of 150 people with a sample of 30 people based on purposive sampling techniques. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistical analysis techniques, paired t-tests, and effectiveness tests using the N-Gain formula. The results showed a significant effect on the average reduction in ankle pain of 37.73333 with an effectiveness level of 60.02% and a reduction in anxiety of 9.3 with an effectiveness level of 34.31%. Further research is expected to be applied to more severe ankle injuries, other types of injuries, both common and rare, in runners, especially recreational runners. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that therapy has an effect on reducing pain and anxiety in athletes with ankle injuries.