Due to the nature of lateral ankle sprains, once an individual has experienced an injury, there’s a high probability that another injury can occur. This is because damage or injury to the ligaments and joint capsules within the ankle can impair the structures ability to function appropriately. Along with any deficits in proprioception, this can often result in a high re-injury rate. Indeed, research has demonstrated that 73 percent of individuals who sprain their ankles are most likely to experience recurrent ankle injuries in the future.
The most frequent factor behind a majority of ankle sprains is when a single extremity lands on an uneven surface. During this case, a quick and joined ankle plantar flexion and inversion motion can often result in an extreme lateral movement which can lead to ankle sprains. Another factor that can influence the chance of lateral ankle sprains is proprioception, or an individual’s own neuromuscular control. With the necessary proprioception, an athlete may be able to accurately determine the speed and force of a disturbance of motion in order to be able to subsequently react with an appropriate joint and muscle motion to avoid injury. However, because there’s always a chance the athlete may be surrounded by uneven terrain, even an individual with excellent proprioceptive skills can suffer harm. Moreover, the evidence for the role of proprioceptive factors in preventing ankle sprains is still unclear.
Among the large variety of athletes, ankle sprains are one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries. According to research, a considerable amount of sports-related injuries may be caused due to ankle instability, also known as ankle ligament laxity. There can be various major factors behind the cause of ankle injuries but most frequently, landing on an uneven surface on a single extremity can cause complications. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.Â