How to Prevent Ankle Sprains - Risk Factors (Part 3)

There have been numerous studies about how ankleexpensive shoes also suffered ankle injuries they
sprains are caused and what factors increase yourlooked at other commonalities in the high priced
risk for ankle sprains. In this article I will go overshoes. The most common feature of these shoes
some of the more and less common risk factors forwas the presence of air cushions in the heel portion
incurring an ankle sprain. While ankle sprains can occurof the shoe. From this research they conclude that
in anybody who walks or runs, they occur mostthese air cushions increase the likelihood of an ankle
frequently in athletes. There are several proposedsprain. The same may be true for shoes with energy
risk factors for ankle sprains in athletes. While it canreturn systems like Nike Shox. There are four key
be difficult for researchers to design good studies offeatures of a shoe that will help limit ankle injury.
risk factors there are a few that are generallyThese are lateral (side-to-side) stability, torsional
accepted for ankle sprains.(twisting) flexibility, cushioning, and traction control.
History of Ankle Sprain. The strongest predictor ofThe most significant of these features is traction
ankle sprains is a previous history of ankle sprains.control[14]. Among soccer and football players, cleat
This conclusion is shared by nearly every studylength and design has been linked to an increase in
conducted on the subject [1],[2],[3],[4]. The peopleankle injuries[15]. The increased traction increases
with the highest risk after they have previouslyfoot fixation. This foot fixation increases the
sprained their ankle are those who did not propervulnerability of all of the lower joints of the leg, in
rehabilitate the injury. An unrehabilitated ankle can beparticular, the ankle.
unstable afterward and is open to being sprainedSurface conditions. The quality and condition of the
over and over again. The reason for this, someplaying surface is a risk factor for ankle sprains. Any
researchers think, is that when an ankle injury occurssurface that has friction which is not optimal (too high
some of the nerves that tell your body what positionor too low) increases an athlete's risk for injury. For
your ankle is in are damaged. These nerves are calledinstance artificial turf increases friction, while water on
proprioceptors and the ability to determine thea court surface may drastically decrease it. High
position of your body parts is called proprioception.friction will hold the contact foot stationary while the
When these nerves are injured it can be moremomentum of the rest of the body will create great
difficult for your body to know how to position yourstress on the joints and ligaments of the ankle. Low
foot to keep it safe.friction will cause the contact foot to slip from under
Balance. Lack of balance (also referred to as Posturalthe body causing excessive motion at the ankle joint,
Sway), may indicate a lack of proprioception due tothereby stressing the ligaments. With these risk
ankle stability. A study of ankle sprain risk factorsfactors in mind it is possible to greatly reduce your
identified athletes with poor balance as those wholikelihood of suffering and ankle sprain. Some risk
could not maintain a single-leg stance for at least 15factors cannot be avoided. To help protect yourself
seconds without touching down the unplanted footin these situations there are some proven methods
to remain steady[5]. These people had an increasedfor decreasing your risk of ankle sprain. Now with this
occurrence of ankle sprain injuries. Anotherinformation in mind we are ready to discuss the top
researcher studied high school basketball players usingthree methods for preventing ankle sprains: taping,
a specially designed machine to identify those withbraces, and exercises.
poor balance[6]. Players with low pre-season testing[1] Thacker SB, Stroup DF, Branche CM, Gilchrist J,
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