SportPhysiology
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Sprain
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>> Ankle sprains are a common injury in sporting activities such as basketball. It is important to know the causes, symptoms and proper treatment procedures so a complete and rapid recovery can take place. By Lynn Khoo.
n many instances, athletes have sprained their ankles during a game. Even worse, dislocations or fractures of a serious nature could have occurred along with muscular strains. Pain alone is often not a reliable indication of the presence or absence of a fracture or dislocation. Fractures and dislocations can usually be confirmed only after an X-ray has been taken. It is therefore advisable for athletes to seek medical attention as soon as they suspect something is amiss. Ankle sprains are a common occurrence in competitive basketball and may other physical sports. To some athletes, ankle sprains have become part and parcel of the game and are nothing unusual. To others, the first sign of an ankle sprain is enough to stop them from play. Athletes who are serious about their sports often have to learn to live with the fact that such injuries will occur from time to time and they might have to continue playing in spite of such injuries. It therefore helps to understand the causes and symptoms as well as the shortest routes to recovery.
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What Is An Ankle Sprain? American Family Physician defines an ankle sprain as an injury that occurs when your foot ‘rolls,’ or turns in on itself, the ligaments that hold the ankle and foot bones in place are over-stretched and weakened. Repetitive sprains and overstretching these ligaments will weaken the ankle stability over time. In severe cases, surgery may be required where 38 draw&dish Jan’06
ankle laxity has compromised daily activities such as walking or running for the bus, and when conservative management such as physiotherapy treatment does not help.
Why Does It Occur? There can be many reasons why an ankle sprain can occur and this can be a combination of many factors such as weakness of the muscles and tendons that support the ankle, improper positioning of the foot, excessive force exerted onto the foot, improper shoes with poor support, repeat sprain injuries and poor proprioception (your sense of ankle’s positions in mid-air) especially after repeated sprains. It could also occur as a result of a condition known as congenital ligament laxity.
Symptoms Of An Ankle Sprain Common symptoms of an angle sprain include swelling, warmth of the swollen area that is painful or tender to touch and limited movement of the ankle. The severity of the ankle sprain can be classified according to
Common symptoms of an angle sprain include swelling, warmth of the swollen area that is painful or tender to touch and limited movement of the ankle.
SportPhysiology
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