| Now that you understand some of the anatomy | | | | This twisting motion can pry the tibia and fibula apart |
| involved at the ankle joint, you are ready to learn | | | | and is typically rather painful. These injuries typically |
| about the different types of ankle sprain, how they | | | | occur when the foot is planted and the body twists |
| are graded and how they are caused. Once you have | | | | over the planted foot. Ankle sprains are frequently |
| a good foundation of the anatomy and the injury we | | | | associated with some muscle strain. You have |
| can begin to discuss how to go about minimizing the | | | | peronei muscles which reach from the knee and |
| chances of sustaining this common injury. A sprain is | | | | outer leg to the foot. Their job is to properly position |
| the term used when a ligament is damaged or | | | | the foot while you are walking, jumping, dancing, etc. |
| ruptured. There two ways in which sprains happen. | | | | When an inversion sprains occur the rapid stretch on |
| One way is to put a sustained stretch on a ligament. | | | | the peronei muscles can cause some tearing and |
| When a ligament is held in a stretched position for a | | | | strain to the muscle. Joint sprains are graded using |
| long period of time it loses some of its elasticity. | | | | the following scale2: |
| These sprains are typically midland can heal quickly if | | | | Grade 1: |
| the ligament is allowed to return to its proper length. | | | | - Mild pain with little to no swelling |
| The other mechanism for sprains is an explosive | | | | - Minor tears and/or stretching of the ligament |
| stretch on a ligament. This force can stretch, tear, or | | | | - Minimal loss of function with some joint stiffness |
| completely rupture a ligament. This is the mechanism | | | | - Full symptomatic/functional recovery takes a few |
| that is most common to ankle sprains. There are | | | | days* |
| three basic types of ankle sprains. They are inversion | | | | Grade 2: |
| sprains, eversion sprains and syndesmosis or | | | | - Moderate to severe pain with swelling |
| "high-ankle" sprains. The most common of the three | | | | - Partial tear of ligaments |
| is the inversion sprain. This is the injury that is | | | | - Moderate loss of function with some joint stiffness |
| commonly sustained when people say that they | | | | - Full symptomatic/functional recovery takes 2-3 |
| "rolled" their ankle. Inversion sprains occur when you | | | | months* Grade 3: |
| foot is pointed toward the floor and the foot rolls | | | | - Severe initial pain followed by little or no pain |
| inward so that all of the weight of the body is over | | | | - Profuse swelling and joint stiffness |
| the outside of the foot and on the outer part of the | | | | - Complete rupture of ligaments (severe laxity in the |
| ankle joint. The way this usually happens is by | | | | absence of swelling) |
| stepping or landing on uneven ground or when | | | | - Complete loss of function |
| making a cutting motion. Inversion sprains damage | | | | - Full symptomatic/functional recovery can take up to |
| the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. The | | | | 4 months* |
| anterior talofibular ligament is the most commonly | | | | * Ligaments may not recover full strength for a year |
| sprained ligament. More severe sprains may involve | | | | or more. Now that you understand the anatomy and |
| the calcaneofibular ligament as well. | | | | mechanism of ankle sprains there is only one more |
| The posterior talofibular ligament is only damaged in | | | | topic to explore before we can begin to explore |
| severe ankle sprains. Eversion sprains are less | | | | some ways that ankle sprains can be prevented. This |
| common than inversion sprains. A big part of the | | | | is the issue of risk factors for ankle sprains. There |
| reason for this is that the outer malleolus extends | | | | are proven ways to limit your risk. The following |
| lower than the inner one. Since it goes lower the | | | | articles will examine the roles that shoes, ankle |
| range of movement toward this bone is limited. The | | | | braces, ankle taping, and exercises play in preventing |
| difference is easy to see if you try to roll your foot | | | | ankle sprains. |
| inward as opposed to outward. Eversion ankle sprains | | | | [1] Hamill J, Knutzen KM. Biomechanical Basis of Human |
| require a great deal of force to occur. Often it | | | | Movement 2nd ed. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams |
| happens when an athlete has a foot planted and | | | | & Wilkins 2003. |
| there is a blow from the side to the planted leg. In | | | | [2] Carnes MA, Vizniak NA. Quick Reference Clinical |
| the most severe cases of eversion ankle sprain, the | | | | Chiropractic Conditions Manual. 1st ed. DC Publishing |
| outer malleolus can fracture as well. The syndesmosis | | | | International 2004. |
| or "high-ankle" sprain can be a common occurrence | | | | [3] Taylor, M. "Talofibular Ligament Injury". 2005 |
| with inversion sprains. It is a sprain of the distal | | | | eMedicine.com, 25 February 2007 |
| talofibular ligament which connects the tibia and fibula | | | | [4] Carnes, Michael. Personal communication. February |
| just above the ankle joint. This occurs when the talus | | | | 2007. |
| bone twists between the inner and outer malleoli. | | | | |