Long-term effects following an acute lateral ankle sprain in a college-aged population
Date
2019
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
The ankle is the most common body part injured by an athletic population with ankle sprains consisting of 77% of all ankle injuries. Approximately 72% of patients following an ankle sprain have reported residual symptoms six to 18 months later. Of those that reported residual symptoms, 40% reported at least one moderate to severe symptom, which included: perceived ankle weakness, perceived ankle instability, pain, and swelling. Previous research has shown that approximately 30% of patients suffering an initial ankle sprain will develop chronic ankle instability. Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is defined by those that have suffered recurrent ankle sprains, may have prolonged symptoms, and may exhibit mechanical and/or functional instability. Functional deficits have been seen in those with CAI, specifically to postural control or dynamic balance. The overall purpose of the current study was to determine if differences existed in the severity of the ankle sprain, pain, and dorsiflexion range-of-motion (DFROM) and the long-term effects of talocrural joint laxity, ligament thickness, and dynamic balance measures after an acute ankle sprain (AAS) in a college-aged population. Secondarily, to determine if differences occur in these measures between AAS, CAI, and to those without a history of ankle sprains (CON). Those who experienced an AAS had increased inversion (INV) stress, INV talofibular interval (TI), and anterior drawer (AD) stress compared to CON and CAI. Anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) thickness was greater in AAS than CON, and greater in CAI than CON. In DFROM, CAI had less ROM than CON. In the Y Balance Test (YBT), CAI had less relative reach distance in anterior (ANT), posteromedial (PM), and composite (COMP) compared to CON. AAS also had less COMP percentage than CAI and CON. As clinicians, we must be aware that those who sustain a lateral ankle sprain should be assessed in the areas mentioned (range-of-motion, ankle laxity, musculoskeletal ultrasound, dynamic balance) to determine if differences exist over time. This research shows that those that have sustained an AAS, regardless of whether or not they have sprained that ankle before, still show deficits in ankle laxity, ROM, and dynamic balance 6-months later; however, those with CAI continue demonstrating deficits over time.