UFAI Ankle Sprains Articles Archive

Every day in the US, 25,000 people sprain their ankle. Over the course of a year, 1 million Americans will visit the emergency room because of an ankle injury, with sprains and fractures being the most common complaint. Half these sprains are the result of athletic activity. Many of these sports-related injuries can be prevented simply by doing a few warm-up exercises before a read more »

An avid athlete works around the clock for perfection on the playing field by spending countless hours training and exercising. Their feet and ankles take a beating as wear and tear increases the risk of injury. Without proper rest and nourishment, the ankle can give way at any moment. One false move and you can cause an ankle sprain. If read more »

Many troublesome foot and ankle conditions occur in children just as they do in adults. But the bones of growing children haven’t themselves finished growing, so some children’s foot problems require extra attention. What is a child’s growth plate? Sites of active bone growth in children are called growth plates. They exist near the ends of bones in pre-adolescent children. read more »

“Hey, it’s just a sprain. No big deal. Walk it off. You’ll be fine.” This all too common advice is followed all too often. The all too usual result? A lifetime of debilitating ankle pain and instability. A fully functional ankle is an essential requirement for any sort of life that isn’t completely sedentary. But ankle sprains do happen. And read more »

Your ankle is an amazing example of anatomical ingenuity. It performs as a three-dimensional hinge. It twists and bends in multiple directions, often simultaneously. In addition to being flexible, your ankle has to be both strong and stable. It bears 150% of your weight when you walk. That load goes up to 800% of your weight when you run. And read more »

If your lifestyle is even a little bit active, it’s almost certainly going to happen. You will sprain your ankle. You’ll do it in a physically demanding sport, like soccer or baseball, which requires abrupt applications of powerful force through your lower legs and feet. Or you will do it during a casual stroll over an uneven surface. Or you’ll read more »

An ankle sprain has been reported to be the most common athletic injury in the United States. A vast majority of ankle sprains involve the lateral ankle ligaments. In the acute setting, ankle sprains are treated with rest, ice, compression, and immobilization. As symptoms resolve, patients continue treatment through physical therapy and gradual return to activity. A majority of these read more »

Ankle sprains are the most common athletic injury and also the most common orthopedic problem presenting to emergency rooms. What is interesting is that only a small portion of sprains actually go to the emergency room and most are treated at home. Treating a  sprain is far more complicated than is given credit.  Since ankle sprains are so common, they read more »

With the professional football season barely 6 weeks old, we’re already hearing the term “high ankle sprain” on a very regular basis. Here are just a handful of the growing legion of large limping men in the NFL: Odell Beckham (NY Giants) Reuben Foster (SF 49ers) Garett Bolles (Denver Broncos) Benny Cunningham (Chicago Bears) Mitchell Loewen (New Orleans Saints) Myles read more »

For children, physical play is as natural as breathing. As soon as girls and boys can stand, they are dodging imaginary foes and winning races against invisible competitors – children’s foot injuries. As they grow older, our children are increasingly drawn into organized play, i.e., youth sports. It is estimated that over 35 million children in the United States regularly read more »