Pathology and Treatment of Ankle Sprain

Abstract

Lateral ankle sprain (LAS) is one of the most common injuries in competitive sports. This article organized the scientific evidence about the pathology, evaluation and treatment of LAS and chronic ankle instability (CAI). Athletes who injured LAS has various symptoms such as inflammation, restriction of joint range of motion, muscle strength deficit, decline balance control, fundamental movement abnormality which caused by various tissue damage. For LAS, it is important to properly evaluate these dysfunctions and advance treatment under the control of the athletic trainer, thereby preventing recurrent sprains and progression to CAI. In treatment for CAI, it is important to properly evaluate mechanical instability, functional instability, perceived instability, and functional performance and to organize individual disease states. Although treatments of CAI are verified by various methods such as balance exercise, joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, and resistance training, balance training is considered to be advantageous to prevent of recurrent sprains and improvement of activity of daily living. In future, it is necessary to develop appropriate treatment protocols according to severity and pathological condition.