Reduce Your Risk of Ankle Injuries

Mark Perren- Jones from The Haven Spa and Health Clinic

Here is a very simple but effective way to decrease your risk of ankle sprains and strains. US researchers have found that by getting the person/athlete to balance on one foot they could determine who were more or less likely to suffer from an ankle injury. Those who were unable to complete a single leg balance test were two and a half times more likely to sprain their ankles as to those who could complete the test. This is significant as up to 20% of all sports injuries are ankle sprains.

The researchers tested 230 college athletes from American Football, women’s soccer and women’s volleyball. The athletes had to close their eyes for 10secs. While standing on one foot without shoes, with the other knee bent and not touching the weight bearing leg. The athletes were the checked throughout the season for ankle sprains/injuries.

After 14 weeks, 28 ankle sprains were reported and the researchers were indeed able to show that the athletes that could not complete the standing test had a higher degree of sprains.

See my section on ankle sprains rehabilitation for the best techniques to rehab your ankle.