ANKLE SPRAINS EXPLAINED: WHAT THEY ARE AND WHY THEY MATTER
Ankle sprains or lateral sprains are the most common sport related injury making up 10% of emergency room visits. They are commonly seen in the world of sports but can also occur when one would least expect it. On a daily run, playing with your kids, coming down the stairs or simply walking across uneven ground. In general ankle sprains are limiting and inconvenient to daily activities and if not properly treated can lead to future inconveniences. That is why receiving treatment that is intentionally tailored and created around your specific goals is so vital.
What is an ankle sprain?
It is an over stretching of the lateral (outer-side) ligaments of your ankle that hold the joint in place. Ligaments are connective tissue that connect bone to bone, in this case the fibula and talus/calcaneus bones, to provide stability, support, and protect against excessive movement. There are three main ligaments that can be involved in this kind of sprain:
2. Posterior Talofibular ligament (PTFL): connects the posterior (back) portion of the fibula to the calcaneus (heel).
3. Calcaneofibular ligament (CFL): connects the lateral portion of the fibula to the calcaneus
When a sprain occurs the ankle is forced beyond the ligament's normal ability resulting in microscopic damage, partial tearing or in more severe cases, a complete tear. Ankle sprains are also commonly defined by the “rolling” of the ankle due the mechanism that is observed when injury occurs. Depending on the severity of the ligaments there are 3 different types (or grades) of ankle sprains:
1. Grade I
a. This is a mild sprain where the ligament(s) are slightly stretched with minimal to no tear with minor pain, slight swelling and tenderness
2. Grade II
a. This is a moderate sprain where the ligament(s) are partially torn, there is noticeable swelling and pain, but not insufferable, and it hurts to passively move
3. Grade III
a. This is a severe sprain where the ligament(s) are completely torn resulting in significant swelling and bruising over the area. Pain accompanies weight bearing making it unable to walk. The ankle will feel unstable as well.
What does this mean for your athlete?
An athlete’s ankle health is literally the foundation of their performance, and without proper care it can put them at increased risk of injury. Recurring studies have proven that basketball, football and soccer players are most susceptible to experiencing an ankle sprain. The repeated mechanical demands of jumping and landing, rapid cutting and stopping, and unexpected tackles are a brewing ground for this injury. Adolescent girls aged 10–14 and boys aged 15–19 experience the highest incidence of ankle sprains due to biological changes during these developmental periods.
Alongside this comes an imbalance of muscle strength to the neighboring calf and hip muscles. The typical recovery time of this kind of injury is anywhere from 6-12 weeks depending on the severity. More often than not a recurring sprain will occur in those who have already had one and can lead to chronic ankle instability down the road. This is where proper rehabilitation and sport specific training comes in.
For you. Your athlete. Their health. Their success. Good rehabilitation begins with understanding where the problem is coming from, why it is coming from there and how to treat it. The curation of a successful ankle rehabilitation looks like implementing treatments for :
● Sport specific demands
● Muscle deficits and imbalances
● Strength training
● Improved stability
● Regaining mobility
Extraordinary rehabilitation meets these needs and is attentive to the unique needs of your athlete exactly where they are while simultaneously aiming for where they will be. Not only is the goal to restore their mechanical freedom but to set them up for future prosperity with injury prevention techniques. We are here to do exactly that!
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