ankle sprains

While ankle sprains remain one of the most common injuries in sports, accounting for more than 45 percent of all athletic injuries according to some estimates, they are not all alike, so it is important that each patient have an individualized treatment plan, recommends a new position statement from the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA). 

Ankle sprains are the most common single injury in high school sports, accounting for one in six of all high school sports-related injuries, finds a new study.

Foot and ankle injuries, such as plantar fasciitis, Lisfranc injuries, ankle sprains and stress fractures are common among athletes of all ages, from the youth to Olympic level, says the the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

The position of the foot just before ground contact during running and walking may put people at risk for ankle sprains, according to a new study in the June 2011 online edition of the American Journal of Sports Medicine which found that people who have a history of repetitive ankle sprains demonstrated lower clearance heights between their feet and the floor during running, and pointed their toes down more during walking.

A very common, but often overlooked problem with lower leg injuries is that a secondary injury can occur, such as posterior tibialis tendonitis, a painful inflammation and injury along the lower inside part of the leg, ankle, and arch of the foot. 

Parents and coaches can help prevent common volleyball injuries by promoting proper warm-up, stretching and strengthening exercises, as well as paying close attention to the proper techniques, footwear, braces and pads to play volleyball safely.

If your child's ankle gives way more and more easily during sports, and, eventually, during everyday activities, he has developed chronic ankle instability. Often times, such instability is the result of an ankle sprain that has not been allowed to fully heal. Repeated ankle sprains cause a loss of proprioception (communication between the central nervous system and the muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the ankle), which, in turn can lead to faulty technique or a sudden loss of control or balance, either of which can, in turn, lead to even more sprains! If your child has a chronically unstable ankle, sports medicine experts say that a rehabilitation program supervised by a physical therapist or athletic trainer (ATC) is absolutely essential.