Ankle Sprain (Pediatric Orthopaedic Ailments 2011)
Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries seen by our team here at Geelong Orthotics. Majority of sprains occur while playing sports such as football, basketball and netball, but many happen when the foot is planted awkwardly or rolled on uneven ground, usually under large forces. Most people tend to “roll out” when they sprain their ankle and as such they tend to stretch or tear the anterior talofibular ligament. To prevent this unwanted movement, further injury and allow healing we recommend the use of a lace-up ankle brace. This brace restricts excessive side-to-side (medial/lateral) movement while allowing normal up and down (dorsi/plantar) movement.
ASO lace-up ankle brace (ASO ankle brace 2011)
According to researchers from Wisconsin “Lace-up ankle braces can significantly reduce the risk of ankle sprain” (Lower Exremity Review 2011).
In their study, 3.6% of basketball players sustained an ankle sprain in the braced group compared to 11% of players in the control group.
A similar study in Greece noted that “un-braced athletes were 2.5times more likely to be injured than braced athletes overall, but four times more likely if they had a previous history of injury (Lower Exremity Review 2011).”
We also recommend a rehabilitation program that includes stretching, re-strengthening and proprioception recovery as outlined by your physiotherapist or rehabilitation medical team.
Proprioception (pronounced /?pro?pri.??s?p??n/ pro-pree-o-sep-sh?n), from Latin proprius, meaning “one’s own” and perception, is the sense of the relative position of neighbouring parts of the body and strength of effort being employed in movement (Wikipedia 2011).
Proprioception 2011, Wikipedia, viewed 24 August 2011, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proprioception>
Pediatric Orthopaedic Ailments 2011, Orthopaedic Surgery, viewed 24 August 2011, <http://www2.massgeneral.org/ortho/Pediatric_Ankle_Sprains.htm>
Lower Extremity Review 2011, Lace-up ankle braces reduce risk of sprain in basketball players regardless of history, Lower Extremity Review Magazine, weblog post, May 2011, viewed 24/08/2011, <http://www.lowerextremityreview.com/issues/may-2011/lace-up-ankle-braces-reduce-risk-of-sprain-in-basketball-players-regardless-of-history>
You can find information on this topic on our website – http://www.geelongorthotics.com.au/lowerlimbs-ankle.aspx
