ANKLE SPRAINS IN SOCCER

Ankle injuries are tremendously common in sports, soccer especially. These have derailed many a budding young athlete’s season, a few unfortunate ones a lasting and limiting condition. Injuries to the ankle typically involve a sprain, which is usually mild, but can be very serious. An ankle sprain can lead to life-long disability. The usual mechanism of injury is where the foot swings inward too far, relative to the lower leg. This stretches the ligaments holding the outside of the ankle joint in place.

Ankle sprains are the second most common type of injury in soccer, hinting at the frequency of the problem. Prevention programs have been developed to address this issue. The benefits and effectiveness of these programs, geared toward prevention of ankle sprains, has previously been controversial. Is that an achievable goal? But according to a new study in a major orthopedic journal, these programs are effective at reducing the risk of ankle injuries, estimates claiming by 40 percent (at least in soccer players on who this study was performed).

The programs included neuromuscular, proprioceptive (balance), strengthening, and stretching exercises, all geared toward the prevention of ankle injuries. They did not include bracing, taping, or other external supports since this approach is already well-accepted in the industry (explaining the multitude of different ankle braces on the market).