Causes and Effects of Ankle sprains in Athletes
Yu Yan
Pasadena City College
Causes and Effects of Sprains in Athletes
Introduction
In physical therapy, experts are trained and licensed to offer their medical professionalism in diagnosing physical disorders, restore physical function and mobility, maintain physical operation, and promote physical activity and appropriate functionality (Chinn, & Hertel, 2010). This one of the fundamental motivations in focusing my attention on this topic to try and educate people on what the strains are and how they affect the sporting capability of an athlete. In an overview, sprain in athletes is a typical kind of injury that involves the stretching or tearing of tissue. Due to the lack of enough knowledge on this area among athletes, this research seeks to try and educate people on what the sprains are and how they affect the sporting capability of an athlete. There are numerous types of sprains seen as the common kind of injuries that involves the stretching or tearing of tissue. Many athletes have a general view about these sprains, and due to lack of enough knowledge on these sprains, the objective of this research is to shed more light on Ankle sprain in particular by addressing the following research questions.
- How does Ankle sprains occur to ligaments?
- As only a sprain, why should athletes be concerned about it?
Topic Relevance in Today’s World
Injuries in sports cause pain, loss of playing time, and in the end, medical expenditure. It is also notable that serious ankle injuries in most cases lead into bone fracture, reduce muscle power, functional instability, limited mobility, disability, and the worst-case scenario early retirement from sports career (Chinn, & Hertel, 2010). Without good treatment and rehabilitation, injuries experienced in sports can lead to other significant susceptibilities in developing osteoarthritis, as well as different types of permanent squeal. Ankle ligament sprain was also reported to be the most common injury for college athletics in the United States. In Hong Kong, a survey on 2,293 patients attending a sports injury clinic reported that ankle sprain represented 17 to 25 percent were the most common sites of injury in long-distance running sports (Fong et al., 2009). In marathon races, studies have also shown 20.9 percent of the injuries reported were ankle sprain. All of these confirm that ankle sprains remains and accounts for more than 80 percent of sports injuries and trauma. All of this reinforces the need to make those involved understand more about this type of sports injury.
Understanding the cause and effects of Ankle sprain
In human structure, the ankle joint is the point where the leg and foot segments meet. This section is made up of talocrural, Subtalar joint, and the distal tibia fibular. Many ankle sprains have been found to be caused by an increased supination movement within the subtalar joint, which in most cases were caused by the position and the scale of the vertically projected ground reaction force at first foot contact(Fong et al., 2009). In case the pressure at the center of the plantar pressure is medically diverted towards the subtalar joint axis, an increased moment arm within the subtalar joint axis, and this leads into subsequently increased supination moment, which initiates unexpected quick-tempered ankle supination. Once the foot is plantarflexed in the course of touch down, the contact to the ground is made with the forefoot, and this increases the moment arm among the subtalar joint axis and also the resultant joint torque to cause impulsive explosive twisting motion and then the ankle sprain injury. It’s important to note that the way a person positions his or her foot during a touchdown acts as the etiology of ankle sprain injury. Additionally, the ankle taping or bracing can correct ankle joint positioning at landing instead of providing mechanical support to the ankle joint.
During rehabilitation from ankle sprains, regaining from a complete range of motion, strength, and neuromuscular coordination are all crucial. In the initial period of rehabilitation, devices such as towel stretches, and wobble board range of action needs to be introduced as tolerated. Stationed biking is crucial in that it can assist in dorsiflexion and plantarflexion motion within a controlled environment. This can be accompanied by a cardiovascular workout, especially among the athletes. Joint mobilizations can be incorporated to assist in the dorsiflexion choice of motion. In the middle period of rehabilitation, balance, and neuromuscular control exercises should be used together with an ongoing variety of motion exercises (Chinn, & Hertel, 2010). The clinicians must take the initiative of educating patients on the proper mechanism of walking. In the end, functional rehabilitation exercises must be introduced using simple uniplanar exercises such as walking and jogging within a straight line. In general, a complete return to activity requires to be a gradual progression as a way of stressing the ligaments without leading into additional harm.
In conclusion, this research sheds more light on the leading predisposing factor for an ankle sprain where a considerable number of people that suffer initial ankle sprain will develop ankle instability. Therefore, it’s paramount for the athletes, sportsmen and women, parents, and coaches that inadequate treatment and rehabilitation of an ankle sprain has a significant likelihood of leading to future problems. In most cases, these players have developed a mindset that an ankle sprain is never serious, and victims can return quickly to business. However, it’s crucial for all stakeholders to aware of the increased frequency of residual symptoms and recurrent sprains. Thus, emphasis must be made to patients’ ion the need for giving the ligaments time to heal, regain full range of motion, strength, and balance before going back to activity.
References
Chinn, L., & Hertel, J. (2010). Rehabilitation of ankle and foot injuries in athletes. Clinics in sports medicine, 29(1), 157.
Dizon, J. M. R., & Reyes, J. J. B. (2010). A systematic review of the effectiveness of external ankle supports in the prevention of inversion ankle sprains among elite and recreational players. Journal of science and medicine in sport, 13(3), 309-317.
Fong, D. T., Chan, Y. Y., Mok, K. M., Yung, P. S., & Chan, K. M. (2009). Understanding acute ankle ligamentous sprain injury in sports. BMC Sports Science, Medicine, and Rehabilitation, 1(1), 14.
