ANKLE SPRAINS
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Ankle sprains occur when the ligaments that stabilize the ankle are stretched or torn as a result of a sudden and uncontrolled movement. This can range from mild ligament strains to complete ligament rupture.
Although often dismissed as a mere "strain" in the general public, ankle sprains account for 15–20% of sports injuries, and approximately 80% of all ankle injuries are sprains.
Sprains are divided into two main groups:
Acute sprain: Occurs after a single traumatic event.
Chronic ankle instability: Persistent looseness and a feeling of insecurity that develops after repeated sprains.
A sprain is not simply a "stretching" of ligaments. Microscopic tears, partial ruptures, or even complete ruptures can occur in the connective tissue. Therefore, not all sprains are the same, and their severity should be assessed clinically.
HOW DO SPRAINS OCCUR?
The vast majority of ankle sprains occur when the foot rotates inward (inversion) and simultaneously bends downward (plantar flexion). The foot rotates suddenly inward as it strikes the ground, stretching the ligaments beyond their capacity.
This mechanism is particularly observed in the following situations:
Sudden change of direction during sports
Misstep after jumping
Walking on uneven ground
Sudden loss of balance under load
Seventy-seven percent of sprains occur on the lateral (outer) side, and in most of these, the most frequently injured ligament is the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) .
The reason the ATFL is frequently injured is that it is anatomically the weakest lateral ligament and is subjected to the greatest tension in the plantar flexion position.
WHICH STRUCTURES ARE MOST AFFECTED?
The ligaments that stabilize the ankle are classified into three main groups:
