2 Common Causes of Ankle Sprains

Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries athletes suffer and can also occur in the course of regular, daily activities. The ankle joint is supported by a series of ligaments that hold the bones in place. When the ankle rolls or twists in an awkward position, a sprain can occur. A sprain is when the ligaments are excessively stretched, resulting in pain, stiffness and swelling.

The most common athletic activities resulting in sprains are those that put the foot in a downward, or plantarflexed, position. These can include:

• Volleyball
  
• Basketball
  
• Dancing
  
• Cross Country
  

With the foot in a downward, pointed position, it is vulnerable to rolling inward under the ankle. The body then has a hard time resisting that outward motion, and the ankle ligaments become injured. There has been good research to show that a soft over-the-counter brace or basket weave style athletic taping can help protect the ankle ligaments during these activities.

Ankle sprains also occur daily non-athletic activities. I see many ankle sprains each week that result from everyday events. The common theme is the position of the ankle joint during the injury. Most ankle sprains occur because of a combination of the foot position and rotation. For instance, a sprain may happen by stepping in a hole doing yardwork, missing the bottom step of a ladder, or stepping on a rock in a parking lot.

When you think in terms of ankle position (foot pointed downward) and rotation (foot moving inward with the ankle rolling outward) it is easy to see why ankle sprains are so common. The severity of the sprain is dictated mostly by the how forcefully the foot rotates. With athletic injuries, bracing or taping and appropriate foot wear can help prevent recurrent injuries. This is also true to some extent with recreational or daily activities. Being aware of your surfaces and environment is helpful too. In order to prevent chronic ankle instability , it is important to let a sprain heal completely before resuming physical activity.

If you have recently suffered a sprain or other ankle injury, contact our Baton Rouge orthopedic office , and schedule an appointment . We will assess the injury, confirm a diagnosis, and offer the most beneficial treatment recommendations to help you fully heal and quickly resume normal activity.