What are the Sports that Lead to Most Ankle Injuries?

Sports and Ankle Injuries: Overview

A study (Waterman et al., 2010) has shown that an ankle sprain is the most common injury in athletics and accounts for up to 30 percent of sports injuries. In the general population, nearly half of all ankle injuries, especially ankle sprains (49.3 per cent), occur during athletic activity. Research has shown that the peak incidence rate of ankle sprains occurs in youngsters, and they have a greater risk of ankle sprain than people between 55 and 59 years of age.

Another research (Muhammadi 2007) has shown that inversion ankle sprains are the most common injury in footballers. This kind of ankle injury primarily occurs during inversion of foot and plantar flexion. If this type of injury is not treated appropriately during or after the rehabilitation process, the risk of reinjuring the same injury is higher. Once the initial stages of inflammation decrease and the athlete can walk without pain, proprioceptive training becomes a critical part of the healing process.  

Major Symptoms OF Ankle Injuries In Sports

The following are the significant symptoms that result in ankle injuries during sports:

Pain Or Tenderness: One of the most obvious signs to develop ankle injury involves pain and tenderness. You may feel most of the areas of the ankle get damaged. The discomfort of the ankle often feels sharp and sudden and worsens when bearing weight. Discomfort levels may vary according to the extent of tissue damage. 

Swelling Or Bruising: A sprained ankle or other ankle injury results in swelling and bruising most immediately. The more swelling or pain you have, indicates a more severe ankle injury.

Limited Range Of Motion: Most ankle injuries, such as ankle sprains, occur when your foot turns too far inward. In this unnatural motion, the ligaments on the outside of your ankle become overtreated or tear.

Ankle Instability: In the case of severe ligament damage, you may experience instability or a shaky feeling in the ankle.  

A sensation Or Popping Sound: A sprained ankle and a torn ligament may also result in a popping sound or sensation. 

Sports That May Cause Ankle Injuries

The following are the sports considered most common causes to develop ankle injuries:

Basketball is the most popular sport in the world. It is estimated that millions of youngsters play basketball. It can cause injuries among players of all ages. Most ankle injuries happen due to a sudden blow or twist in the ankle or foot during playing. Wearing eye protection, knee and elbow pads, a mouth guard, and an athletic supporter are critical factors for a safe playing experience.

• Football

Collision or contact sports such as football is the most common reason for ankle injuries. You can see a football player is constantly involved in running, jumping, or falling in the field. These unnatural motions or activities can become the reasons for the ankle to twist or fracture. Before playing football, make sure that your body is fully warmed up and wear all the necessary equipment such as knee and sleeve compressions and athletic shoes. Only in this way can you have a safe and healthy game experience. Otherwise, you are setting yourself up for an ankle injury.

• Ice Hockey

Ice hockey is not as popular as football or basketball, but the game is still liked and played in several regions. It is a sport that is considered a challenging game for the ankle, and the most common injury is the ankle sprain. The damage typically occurs when your ankle rolls inward, which results in ligaments stretching and tearing. If you are experiencing any symptoms (above mentioned) during and after play, never ignore them and start treating the symptoms immediately. To avoid ankle injuries while playing ice hockey, you must limit head contact.

• Cheerleading

Cheerleader sport becomes the reason for a lateral ankle sprain. The injury occurs when your ankle is rolled over the outside of the foot. While cheerleader, the ankle injuries most often occur during landing from a jump or stunt, planting awkwardly during a tumbling routine, and stepping on a teammates’ foot.

• Baseball

Ankle and foot injuries sustained during baseball, including dislocations, fractures, contusions, tendon pathology, and sprains. Almost 81% of injuries resulting from baseball are acute. Most ankle injuries in baseball occur due to overuse or repetitive movements. You may feel your ankle will be enlarged and swollen due to ankle injuries in baseball. Make sure that you are moving and running in a natural movement while playing a baseball match.

• Volleyball

Volleyball may often result in a lateral ankle sprain. Most players often land on the outer part of their foot, resulting in a sprain on the lateral ankle ligaments. A volleyball player requires repetitive jumping and side-to-side movements, which increases the risk of injury. Make sure that you are jumping or moving in a natural motion.

• Cricket

Ankle injuries are common in cricketers, especially among fast bowlers who are more likely to stretch the ligaments when the foot is lodged during the bowling action. The ankle may give way under pressure when the foot does not land correctly. Cricketers, especially fast bowlers, must wear the proper athletic shoes and ankle support for running to protect ankles and avoid any injury during play. 

How To Diagnose Ankle Sports Injuries?

Follow the suggestions below to diagnose ankle sports injuries:

Physical Examination: Your GP may rotate, flex, and extend your foot or ankle to test the range of motion and determine which tissues or ligaments are torn. The activity may be painful for people suffering from grade II or III ankle sprain.

X-rays or MRI: X-ray and MRI are performed when your GP is not satisfied with a physical examination. These techniques are used to determine exactly which tissues are damaged.

Treatments For Ankle Sports Injuries

Non-Surgical Treatments

If you suffer from a mild or grade I ankle sprain, you may recover from it with the following non-surgical treatments: 

Rest: Do proper rest to avoid any further damages.

Ice Massage: Use ice packs to massage the affected areas. Ice massage will reduce swelling and pain. 

Elevations: Elevation is the best exercise to help speed up the recovery process.

Ankle Supports: Ankle supports help keep your ankle in a position, which helps speed up the recovery process.  

Surgical Treatments

Ankle injuries with severe conditions, for example, lateral ankle ligament reconstruction, may require surgery. The surgery is performed to tighten and firm up one or more ankle ligaments on the outside of the ankle. The process is known as the Brostrom procedure. It is an outpatient surgery, which means you can go home within the same day of surgery.

How to Prevent Ankle Injuries in Sports?

The below mentioned are the best preventive measures to avoid ankle injuries in sports:

Avoid Overtraining: Do not do exercise beyond your bearing capacity. It will make you tired and increase the risk of injury.   

Warm up Your Body: Before entering the field, warm up your body with some joint exercises, including pushups, bench press, pull down, squat, leg curl and also exercises like jumping jacks etc.

Running and Stepping: Beware of running and stepping on cracked sidewalks or uneven surfaces.

Wear Sensible Kits: Before playing, ensure that you have worn all the safety equipment to keep your body away from any injury.  

How Do Ankle Braces Help With Sports Injuries?

Ankle braces help support the joints and promote proper movements and functionality that prevent further damages. The primary function of a brace is to help provide external support to increase the stability of joints and ankles. 

Buy the Best Ankle Braces

Unfortunately, if you suffer from an ankle injury and want to get a fast recovery, 360 Relief provides you with the best braces to help treat the injury. Whether you are suffering from an ankle sprain, dislocation, fracture, or other problems, our ankle supports will help you resume your everyday life routine.