Ankle and Lower Leg Injuries Quiz

Ankle and Lower Leg Injuries: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Treatment with Positional Release Therapy

• Ankle sprain is the most common lower-quarter injury, with over 3 million reported cases in the US in 2010.
• Ankle sprains occur more frequently among young males, with the highest rate in males aged 15 to 24.
• 49.3% of ankle sprains occur during athletic activity, with basketball players being most at risk.
• Girls playing gender-comparable sports are more likely to sustain ankle sprains than boys.
• Ankle sprains are more common among females than males, and the most significant risk factor for ankle sprain is a previous history of sprain.
• Recurrent ankle sprains may produce chronic ankle instability and ankle joint osteoarthritis.
• Ankle injury, particularly ankle sprain, may trigger the development of fibromyalgia.
• Positional Release Therapy (PRT) may be applied to an ankle sprain as soon as possible to avoid the onset of somatic dysfunction.
• A single session of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) that includes PRT, muscle energy, and joint manipulation can significantly reduce pain, swelling, and improve range of motion in adults with an acute ankle sprain without fracture.
• Joint mobilization combined with exercise may be more helpful than exercise alone for ankle sprain recovery.
• Cumulative trauma to the ankle and lower leg may result in chronic inflammatory conditions such as Achilles tendinopathy and medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS).
• Early preventive measures such as the reduction of training errors and improved hip abductor strength and proprioception could help curb the incidence of ankle and lower-limb injury.