Citation

Swenson DM, Collins CL, Fields SK, Comstock RD. Clin. J. Sport. Med. 2013; 23(3): 190-196.

Affiliation

*College of Medicine and †College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio ‡Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio §School of Physical Activity and Educational Services, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JSM.0b013e31827d21fe

PMID

23328403

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:: Describe ankle injury epidemiology among US high school athletes in 20 sports. DESIGN:: Descriptive prospective epidemiology study. SETTING:: Sports injury data for the 2005/06 to 2010/11 academic years were collected using an internet-based injury surveillance system, Reporting Information Online. PARTICIPANTS:: A nationwide convenience sample of US high schools. ASSESSMENT OF RISK FACTORS:: Injuries sustained as a function of sport and gender. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:: Ankle sprain rates and patterns, outcomes, and mechanisms. RESULTS:: From 2005/06 to 2010/11, certified athletic trainers reported 5373 ankle sprains in 17 172 376 athlete exposures (AEs), for a rate of 3.13 ankle sprains per 10 000 AEs. Rates were higher for girls than for boys (rate ratio [RR] 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17-1.34) in gender-comparable sports and higher in competition than practice for boys (RR 3.42, 95% CI 3.20-3.66) and girls (RR 2.71, 95% CI 2.48-2.95). The anterior talofibular ligament was most commonly injured (involved in 85.3% of sprains). Overall, 49.7% of sprains resulted in loss of participation from 1 to 6 days. Although 0.5% of all ankle sprains required surgery, 6.6% of those involving the deltoid ligament also required surgery. The athletes were wearing ankle braces in 10.6% of all the sprains. The most common injury mechanism was contact with another person (42.4% of all ankle sprains). CONCLUSIONS:: Ankle sprains are a serious problem in high school sports, with high rates of recurrent injury and loss of participation from sport.

Language: en