Football Ankle Injuries

Ankle injuries, and most notably ankle sprains, are quite common in the game of football. Ankle injuries commonly occur when a player makes a rapid change of direction, is tackled around the ankle or lands awkwardly and rolls the ankle. An ankle sprain is usually far more painful than even a broken bone in the ankle.

LATERAL SPRAINS

Lateral ankle sprains occur when the ankle is rolled so that the foot is turned inward. This causes the ligaments throughout the foot and ankle to stretch or tear. Lateral sprains are common in football due to the contact nature of the sport and also because players are often jumping, cutting and changing direction, making the ankles vulnerable to rolling or twisting. A grade 1 sprain includes mild swelling and soreness, with minimal loss of ankle function. A grade 2 sprain includes partial ligament tearing, moderate to severe pain and swelling, and some loss of ankle function. A grade 3 sprain includes complete tearing of ligaments, severe pain and swelling, and total loss of ankle function.

SYNDESMOSIS SPRAINS

Also referred to as high ankle sprains, syndesmosis sprains are also quite common in football. They are different from lateral ankle sprains in that they affect a different set of ligaments --- a set of five ligaments that connects the tibia and fibula bones in the leg. High ankle sprains occur when the ankle is twisted while the foot is turned outward. In football, a high ankle sprain can occur when a player is tackled around the ankle or when a foot becomes trapped under another player. High ankle sprains are graded on the same 1 to 3 scale as lateral sprains, but typically take longer to heal.

ANTERIOR IMPINGEMENTS

Also known as "athlete's ankle," impingement injuries are quite commonly suffered by athletes who play a sport for a long period of time. They are overuse injuries that occur when tissue becomes pinched between ankle bones. Impingements can also result from repeated and/or severely sprained ankles. When the ligaments heal after a sprain, they form scar tissue that can create an impingement. The symptoms include pain at the front or side of the ankle, especially when the foot is pointed downward, and pain when you bear weight on your toes.

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FRACTURES

Ankle fractures are severe ankle injuries that consist of bone breaks and are usually accompanied by grade 3 sprains, where ligaments are completely torn. Ankle fractures commonly occur in the same manner that a sprain occurs, with the ankle rolling inward or outward. They can also be caused by an awkward or forceful tackle around the ankle, or when the body twists awkwardly while the foot is firmly planted in the turf. Symptoms include sudden and intense pain in the ankle, pain when you try to put weight on the ankle, and severe swelling and bruising.