Ankles Can Be Strengthened To Resist Sprain

July 4, 2006

Sprained ankles can be avoided by those at high risk through a weekly

balance training program, according to new research released today at

the 2006 Annual Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for

Sports Medicine at the HERSHEY® Lodge and Convention Center.

" Our previous research showed that high school football players who

are overweight and have had a previous ankle injury are at increased

risk of sustaining a subsequent ankle sprain, " says lead author

Malachy McHugh, PhD, director of research at the Institute

of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma at Lenox Hill Hospital in New

York City. " We have now demonstrated that these injuries can be

avoided by having players do balance training on a foam pad for five

minutes on each leg several times a week. " Dr. McHugh says that ankle

sprain is the most common sports injury.

Some researchers have theorized that the compounding effect of a

previous ankle sprain and a high body mass index on ankle sprain is

due to weakened ankle stability and the lack of dynamic movement

control caused by large body mass.

Dr. McHugh and colleagues followed 175 high school varsity football

players for three years to determine if balance training could reduce

risk of ankle sprain. Those at risk of ankle sprain due to body mass

and/or history of previous ankle sprain balanced on each leg for five

minutes, five days a week for four weeks in preseason and twice

weekly during football season. Injury incidences included games and

practices.

The researchers found that 18 percent of the players at increased

risk sustained a non-contact ankle sprain compared with 3 percent

following the balance training intervention. Prior to intervention,

overall injury incidence for those at risk of ankle injury was 2.2

per 1,000 exposures, which was reduced to 0.5 following intervention.

Dr. McHugh and colleagues conclude that stability pad training was

inexpensive and easily implemented. It reduced ankle sprains by 77

percent, effectively eliminating the increased risk associated with

high body mass and previous sprain.

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