Treatment of Ankle Sprains in Young Athletes

To study the incidence of fibulocollateral ligament ankle sprains in the young male athlete, a survey of 84 varsity basketball players was done. Seventy percent of the players had a history of an ankle sprain. Eighty percent of those with a positive history had multiple sprains. Most of the injuries were mild, but in 32% of the injuries, the athlete missed more than 2 weeks of play. No medical attention was sought in 55% of the cases. About 50% of the athletes with a sprain had residual symptoms from their injuries; 15% of the injured athletes felt that their residual symptoms compromised their playing performance. This article emphasizes the potential seriousness of the ankle sprain in the young athlete and presents a recommended method of management, including assessment of severity, treatment, and rehabilitation.