Introduction

Lateral ankle sprain (LAS) is the most common musculoskeletal injury in the physically active population; it is also a common condition in the general population. Apart from the pain and temporary period of reduced functioning and disability, it is also associated with increased risk of recurrence ankle instability.^[1]

Repeated episodes of supination on an externally rotated rear foot predisposes to lateral ankle sprains. Recurrent ankle sprain mostly common in a patient with chronic ankle instability which could be mechanical due to lax ligament or multi-ligament instability, biomechanical error, degenerative changes in joints or ligament. Functional instability due to error in proprioception and neuromuscular control.^[2]

LAS is hypothesised to cause Functional instability (FI) following repeated injury predispose individuals to neuromuscular deficits. LAS not only cause structural damage to the ligamentous tissue, but also to the nervous and musculotendinous tissue around the ankle complex. Ligaments injury leads to laxity of the joints of the ankle complex, may also compromise neuromuscular complex due to the injury to the nervous and musculotendinous tissue. These neuromuscular deficits may be manifested as impaired balance, reduced joint position sense, slower firing of the peroneal muscles to inversion perturbation of the ankle, slowed nerve conduction velocity, impaired cutaneous sensation, strength deficits and decreased dorsiflexion range of motion.^[3]

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18. WADA List of Prohibited Substance
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Dr Shikha Dhaundiyal

Senior Resident (MD Sports Medicine) Gold Medalist

Sports Injury Centre (SIC) VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi