Sprained Ankles, How Serious & Why so Common?

Injury time can put a major damper on an athlete's career, forcing them to sit out large portions of a season, or miss a chance of a lifetime; playing in the Olympics. Recently, NHL hockey player, Alexei Zhitnki's sprained ankle has knocked the New York Islanders defensemen out of the winter games in Torino, Italy.

It is estimated that about 25,000 people sprain their ankle everyday in the United States. Ankle sprains are the most common of sports injuries, comprising 14%-21% of all sports injuries, according to a study conducted in 1999.

Ankle injuries are often more serious then most people - typically the ones spraining them - would like to admit. Paul Geisler, Ed.D, ACT, an Assistant Professor and Program Director of Athletic Training Education at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York states, "The key that most people don't do, because they consider it ‘just an ankle sprain,' is they don't go on crutches and immobilize it." An ankle sprain occurs when the ligaments, which connect your leg to your foot, become stretched or torn, as a result of quick shifting. The foot rolls inward, in an inverted sprain, or can roll outward in an exerted sprain.

"In any serious joint injury, physicians first evaluate an ankle injury based on a potential fracture and dislocation," says Professor Geisler. These potential fractures and dislocations are notwithstanding the ligament tearing, which occurs in a typical ankle sprain.

Ankle sprains are classified in various degrees. The first degree is usually a stretch or a minor tear in the ligament, without any loosening. A second degree sprain is classified as a tear of the ligament plus some laxity, while the third degree is a complete tear of the affected ligament.