Predisposing factors to lateral ankle injury in male comrades marathon runners

Introduction: More than two million people experience ankle ligament traumaeach year in the United States. Half of these are severe ligament sprains, however verylittle is known about the factors that predispose individuals to these injuries. The purpose of this study, (which was conducted as an undergraduate research project),was to find a correlation between the characteristics of height, weight and limbdominance and lateral ankle ligament injuries. Method: A retrospective study was conducted on 114 ultra distance runners whoparticipated in the 2006 Comrades Marathon. During race registration, the runners’ height and weight were measuredafter answering a questionnaire regarding their training. Results: 114 runners responded to the questionnaire. From this cohort, 38 (33.3%) had sustained previous lateral ankle injuries. Of these 38 injuries, 47.4% of the injuries occurred on the runner’s dominant limb and 36.8% occurred on thenon-dominant side. 15.8% of the runners sustained previous ankle injuries to both ankles. There was a low negative correlation coefficient of 0.24 with regards to weight as a risk factor. This indicated that the power of the correlationwas 5.93%. The study demonstrates that there is no correlation between an increase in weight and an increase in theincidence of ankle injury. The correlation coefficient indicated a low correlation between an increase in height and the incidence of ankle injury. However, the power of the correlation at 18.37% makes inaccurate any attempt to predict the height at which a runner would be at most risk for lateral ankle injury. Conclusion: Height and weight are not risk factors predisposing subjects to lateral ankle injury. In addition, the studyillustrated that there was no effect of limb dominance on the incidence of lateral ankle injury.

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The Role of the Accessory Malleolar Ossicles and Malleolar Avulsion Fractures in Lateral Ankle Ligament Reconstruction

Foot & Ankle Specialist ◽

10.1177/1938640017729498 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 308-314 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Matthew M. Reiner ◽

Jonathan J. Sharpe

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Conservative Treatment ◽

The United States ◽

Ankle Sprains ◽

Ligament Repair ◽

Avulsion Fractures ◽

Lateral Ankle ◽

Accessory Ossicles ◽

Ankle Ligament ◽

Lateral Ankle Ligament

While it is well known that ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries in the United States, predictive factors regarding failure of conservative treatment are not well known. There are many biomechanical and epidemiological factors that play a role in recurrence and failure of conservative treatment, but most cases are able to be treated with immobilization and/or rest, ice, elevation, physical therapy, and bracing. We propose that one important risk factor is often overlooked simply due to the fact that a vast majority of these cases resolve without the need for surgery. Accessory ossicles and avulsion fractures of the malleoli or talus may represent a predisposition or marker for ligamentous damage that may lead to the need for lateral ankle ligament repair or reconstruction in the future. We have identified 61 consecutive patients who underwent lateral ankle ligament repair or reconstruction by the primary surgeon from the years 2007 to 2017. Out of those patients who met our inclusion and exclusion criteria, 66% had the presence of osseous pathology consisting of accessory ossicles or avulsion fractures of the medial or lateral malleolus or talus. The proportion of osseous pathology seen with lateral ankle ligament repair or reconstruction was higher than what has been previously reported in both operative and nonoperative settings. This may help identify a risk factor for failure of conservative treatment in patients presenting with acute ankle sprains or ankle instability especially in the active cohort. Levels of Evidence: Level IV: Case series

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The Epidemiology of Ankle Injuries in Professional Rugby Union Players

The American Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/0363546508322889 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 36 (12) ◽

pp. 2415-2424 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

R. Andrew Sankey ◽

John H. M. Brooks ◽

Simon P. T. Kemp ◽

Fares S. Haddad

Keyword(s):

Achilles Tendon ◽

Medical Personnel ◽

Rugby Union ◽

Tendon Injuries ◽

Ankle Injuries ◽

Considerable Proportion ◽

Ligament Injuries ◽

Lateral Ankle ◽

Ankle Ligament ◽

Lateral Ankle Ligament

Background Ankle injuries represent a considerable proportion of injuries to professional rugby union players; however, there is a scarcity of detailed epidemiology about these injuries. Purpose To describe the epidemiology and assess the risk factors associated with ankle injuries sustained by a cohort of professional rugby union players. Study Design Descriptive epidemiology study. Method Medical personnel prospectively reported time-loss injuries in professional rugby union in England, and the ankle injuries were evaluated. Results Lateral ankle ligament injuries were the most common injury reported during matches and training, and together with Achilles tendon injuries, they accounted for more than half of the absence due to injury. The incidence rate of injuries was highest in second-row forwards. More than a quarter of injuries were recurrences. Conclusion Lateral ankle ligament injuries and Achilles tendon injuries should be a focus of injury prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies in professional rugby union players.

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