ANKLE SPRAIN (II)

RISK FACTORS

JOINT INSTABILITY.

Chronic ankle instabilities may be due to mechanical instability, functional instability or a combination of both.

mechanical instability: It is the combination of an alteration of the elastic properties of the fixing ligaments and a movement of the ankle beyond the physiological limit. The tibio-peroneo-talar fascicles are those that are especially affected.
Among the causes that are considered today, we highlight:
– Joint degenerative changes.
– Pathological capsule-ligamentous laxity.
– Synovial membrane irritation.

Functional instability is defined as ankle imbalance due to proprioceptive and neuromuscular deficits.. Neuromuscular deficits caused by injury, are the facilitators of the appearance of recurrences. Structural injury does not only occur in the ligaments, besides, affects the nerve and muscle-tendon tissue, triggering numerous associated alterations.

INTRINSIC FACTORS:

Overweight, age, sex, foot morphology, proprioceptive alterations, muscle balance imbalance or previous history of sprains.

VARIATIONS IN THE LENGTH AND WIDTH OF THE PLANTAR ARCH.

One of the possible risk factors that have been studied is a decrease in the length of the plantar arch.. There is a higher incidence of ankle sprain injuries in subjects with a decreased plantar arch compared to people who have a normal or increased arch..

Regarding the width, It seems to be another condition when the injury occurs.. In feet with greater width the moment of force that occurs at the moment of the inversion injury is greater compared to narrow feet.

Both variables are structural and the action we can take would be compensatory with plantar supports and recommendations regarding the most appropriate footwear for each person..

THE BIOMECHANICS OF WALKING.

Some studies have shown that there is a correlation between the lateral deviation of the center of pressure during the initial stance phase and the greater probability of suffering a sprain. The significant increase in rearfoot inversion position during the stance phase, can be treated using proprioceptive techniques and biomechanical techniques with the help of personalized insoles.

PREVENTION

PROPRIOCEPTION EXERCISES
These exercises are recommended to be performed once the treatment has finished when there has been an injury or as a preventive measure.. It is always recommended to carry it out under professional supervision.

SPORTS FOOTWEAR
A very important factor in the prevention of ankle injuries, it's the footwear. The shoe we use for sports can become an element that triggers injuries or an element of prevention.. That's why, A series of recommendations must be taken into account both for the purchase of new shoes and for the evaluation of a change in them.. No matter how comfortable we feel in our sports shoes,, you have to know that they have a useful life. Trying to continue wearing the same shoes when it would be better to change them can become an etiopathological factor to take into account..

What recommendations are interesting to take into account when choosing a basketball shoe??
General needs:
The type of surface where sports practice is carried out, whether indoors or outdoors.
The sporting level of the person who practices this sport. Here we will take into account the training hours, the intensity, the matches, position you occupy in the team, ultimately, the intended use of the shoes.
Specific needs:
It should allow good cushioning during jumps.
Supporting the foot inside the shoe is essential to have greater stability and mechanical protection of the ankle..
Observe the grip and stability of the sole that allows quick movements and changes of direction.
The materials that make up the shoe must allow normal foot sweating.
The buttress is recommended to be firm to secure the heel to the shoe and prevent hypermobility in the stance phase of gait of the subtalar joint..