Ankle Sprain eMedicine Sports

Description: The ankle joint has many functions, one of which is to allow the body to adapt to uneven terrain during ambulation. Failure to compensate for uneven footing may result in an ankle injury. Eighty-five percent of ankle injuries are sprains, and of those sprains, 85% are lateral inversion sprains. Although athletes usually recover quickly from ankle sprains, failure to appropriately rehabilitate these injuries imposes an increased risk for future injury.
Synonyms and related keywords: anterior talofibular ligament sprain, deltoid ligament sprain, high ankle sprain, lateral ankle sprain, medial ankle sprain, rolled ankle, syndesmosis sprain, turned ankle, twisted ankle
Author: Craig C Young, MD 2008