Hydrogen Water Matches Ice Therapy for Ankle Sprains in Athletes
Hydrotherapy with hydrogen-rich water compared with RICE protocol following acute ankle sprain in professional athletes: a randomized non-inferiority pilot trial
Research hubs: Musculoskeletal System
- Evidence type
- Randomized controlled trial · Human study
- Authors
- Dejan Javorac, Valdemar Stajer, Laszlo Ratgeber, Andras Olah, Jozsef Betlehem, Pongras Acs, Boris Vukomanovic, Sergej M. Ostojic
- Journal
- Research in Sports Medicine
- Year
- 2020
- PMID
- 33356580
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 18
- Delivery
- Water (Mg-Chemico)
- Dose
- Six 30-minute ankle baths with hydrogen-rich water over 24 hours, administered every 4 hours
- Duration
- 1 day or less
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 19 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Serbia
TL;DR
Soaking an injured ankle in hydrogen-rich water is just as effective as the traditional RICE method for reducing swelling and improving balance after a sprain.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich water hydrotherapy reduced ankle swelling and improved function comparably to the standard RICE protocol in professional athletes with acute ankle sprains.
Summary
Researchers compared two treatments for acute ankle sprains in professional athletes: hydrogen-rich water baths versus the standard RICE protocol (rest, ice, compression, elevation). Both groups received their assigned treatment over 24 hours after injury. The hydrogen-rich water treatment worked about as well as RICE for reducing swelling, improving ankle movement, and restoring balance, suggesting it could be a viable alternative treatment option.
Practical Takeaway
This small pilot study (18 athletes total) suggests hydrogen-rich water may be as effective as RICE for acute ankle sprain recovery, but the findings are preliminary. Larger studies are needed before drawing firm conclusions about whether hydrogen water offers practical advantages over established treatments.
Abstract (excerpt)
We analysed the effects of an experimental novel protocol of intensive hydrotherapy with hydrogen-rich water (HRW) on injury recovery in athletic men who suffered an acute ankle sprain (AAS) and compared it with a RICE protocol (rest, ice, compression, elevation). Professional athletes (age 23.7…