Ankle ligament injury risk factors: a prospective study of college athletes

Over two million individuals suffer ankle ligament trauma each year in the United States, more than half of these injuries are severe ligament sprains ; however, very little is known about the factors that predispose individua ls to these injuries. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk f actors associated with ankle injury. We performed a prospective study of 11 8 Division I collegiate athletes who participated in soccer, lacrosse, or f ield hockey. Prior to the start of the athletic season, potential ankle inj ury risk factors were measured, subjects were monitored during the athletic season, and injuries documented. The number of ankle injuries per 1000 per son-days of exposure to sports was 1.6 for the men and 2.2 for the women. T here were 13 injuries among the 68 women (19%) and seven injuries among the 50 men (13%), but these proportions were not significantly different. Wome n who played soccer had a higher incidence of ankle injury than those who p layed field hockey or lacrosse. Among men, there was no relationship betwee n type of sport and incidence of injury. Factors associated with ankle liga ment injury differ for men relative to women. Women with increased tibial v arum and calcaneal eversion ranee of motion are at greater risk of sufferin g ankle ligament trauma, while men with increased talar tilt are at greater risk. Generalized joint laxity, strength, postural stability, and muscle r eaction time were unrelated to injury. (C) 2001 Orthopaedic Research Societ y. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.