Physicians who treat athletes with traumatic foot and ankle injuries should know when to order special imaging studies, determine whether injuries can be managed in the office or require referral, and return the athlete to sports activity quickly. For simple ankle sprains, plain x-ray films usually are not indicated; functional rehabilitation is a first-line treatment. Syndesmotic injuries are ...

BACKGROUND Ankle sprains are the most common injuries in a variety of sports. HYPOTHESIS A proprioceptive balance board program is effective for prevention of ankle sprains in volleyball players. STUDY DESIGN Prospective controlled study. METHODS There were 116 male and female volleyball teams followed prospectively during the 2001-2002 season. Teams were randomized by 4 geographical regi...

We undertook a prospective study to determine the type and distribution of foot and ankle snowboarding injuries. Reports of 3213 snowboarding injuries were collected from 12 Colorado ski resorts between 1988 and 1995. Of these, 491 (15.3%) were ankle injuries and 58 (1.8%) were foot injuries. Ankle injuries included 216 (44%) fractures and 255 (52%) sprains. Thirty-three (57%) of the foot injur...

OBJECTIVE To estimate the overall incidence of acute and overuse volleyball injuries, and to describe factors associated with ankle sprains. METHODS 486 players from the second and third Dutch national volleyball divisions participated in the study and were followed prospectively during a whole season. Three measurements were made during the season (baseline, follow up 1, and follow up 2), wh...

BACKGROUND Ankle sprains are common within the general population and can result in prolonged disablement. Limited talocrural dorsiflexion range of motion (DF ROM) is a common consequence of ankle sprain. Limited talocrural DF ROM may contribute to persistent symptoms, disability, and an elevated risk for re-injury. As a result, many health care practitioners use hands-on passive procedures wit...

OBJECTIVES To assess the use of soft collars for whiplash injuries presenting to Welsh accident and emergency departments and compare with recommended treatment as suggested by other literature. METHODS Questionnaires were sent to 76 full time accident and emergency staff across Wales inquiring into their management of soft tissue sprains/strains of the neck and soft collar use. RESULTS The...

Over the last 30 years, cheerleading has increased dramatically in popularity and has evolved from leading the crowd in cheers at sporting events into a competitive, year-round sport involving complex acrobatic stunts and tumbling. Consequently, cheerleading injuries have steadily increased over the years in both number and severity. Sprains and strains to the lower extremities are the most com...