Which ankle sprain is most common?

Which ankle sprain is most common?

• A. Eversion Ankle Sprain
• B. High Ankle Sprain
• C. Posterior Ankle Sprain
• D. Inversion Ankle Sprain

Answer: (D)

The most common ankle sprain occurs when the foot rolls inward, or inverts, during landing or quick directional changes. This inward twist places the load on the outside of the ankle and most often injures the lateral ligaments, especially the anterior talofibular ligament. That ligament is the most frequently damaged in these events, and because this inversion mechanism happens so commonly in sports and daily activities, inversion ankle sprains are far more typical than injuries to the inside ligaments (eversion), the ligaments between the tibia and fibula (high ankle sprain), or the posterior structures. Eversion sprains require a larger, less frequent force because the deltoid ligament on the inner ankle is relatively strong, making these injuries less common. High ankle sprains involve the syndesmosis and usually come from a specific external-rotation and dorsiflexion mechanism, which is less common. Posterior sprains happen with forced plantarflexion and are also less frequent. So, the inward twist injury is the one you’re most likely to see.

The most common ankle sprain occurs when the foot rolls inward, or inverts, during landing or quick directional changes. This inward twist places the load on the outside of the ankle and most often injures the lateral ligaments, especially the anterior talofibular ligament. That ligament is the most frequently damaged in these events, and because this inversion mechanism happens so commonly in sports and daily activities, inversion ankle sprains are far more typical than injuries to the inside ligaments (eversion), the ligaments between the tibia and fibula (high ankle sprain), or the posterior structures.

Eversion sprains require a larger, less frequent force because the deltoid ligament on the inner ankle is relatively strong, making these injuries less common. High ankle sprains involve the syndesmosis and usually come from a specific external-rotation and dorsiflexion mechanism, which is less common. Posterior sprains happen with forced plantarflexion and are also less frequent. So, the inward twist injury is the one you’re most likely to see.