Table 1 Baseline general and clinical characteristics of patients with ankle sprains in the two treatment groups.

	Intermittent ice (n = 43)	Standard ice (n = 46)
Age (years)*	29.8 (11.5)	31.2 (10.9)
Height (cm)*	178.8 (11.9)	174.3 (12.2)
Weight (kg)*	78.2 (12.3)	80.1 (9.7)
Grade 1:grade 2	14:29	11:35
Cause of injury (%)
Sport	52	48
Work related	17	13
Other	31	39
Time from injury (h)*	24 (6.8)	27 (7.2)
Previous ankle injury (%)	15	17
Number of patients employed (%)	92	89
Number of non‐smokers (%)	79	83
Male:female	28:15	30:16
Sport:general	22:21	22:24

*Values are mean (SD).