Anterior Talofibular Injury Research Paper

An Anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) sprain is one of the most common injuries of the ankle and is a common injury in the fast majority of sports. Ankle sprains account for up to 10-30% of sports injuries. (4…..) The sprain often occurs when the footballer lands on uneven ground, for example the opposing players’ foot, or mis-steps. (5…….) In football the majority of ankle sprains are caused during player contact, resulting in the footballer “rolling over” on their ankle. (5….) A sprain to the ATFL occurs due to an inversion of the foot. (1……..) 25% of all injuries are due to inversion and 50% of these are sport related. The range of motion during inversion is limited due to the lateral ligaments of the ankle. The capsular lateral ligaments

Inflammation can last from up to 10 minutes up to 72 hours depending on the severity of the injury and the individual. Inflammation is often identified due to the 5 cardinal signs; Heat, redness, swelling, loss of motion and pain at the injury site. To manage these signs a functional treatment, known as PRICE, is one of the best treatments to use. Price stands for; Protect, Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate. (potts,2010)

The injury will be protected shortly after the incident to prevent any further damage occurring to the injury as the ankle will be unstable. Rest is also an important factor in the healing time of the injury. The clinician will rest the injured area to prevent further trauma from occurring. Resting the ankle also reduces the metabolic rate in the tissue and therefore avoiding an increase in blood flow to the area. After resting the ankle joint for a short period, the clinician would then introduce ice to the area. Introducing ice to the area will help to reduce the initial temperature causing the localised blood vessels to constrict. The constriction of the blood vessels reduces the blood flow and demand for O2 at the area therefore preventing haemorrhaging from occurring, reducing hypoxia and the tissue dying. (Potts,2010) Compression will help to manage the levels of swelling and provide support for the ankle joint. Compression is usually applied through strappings and tapings. Taping the ankle helps to reduce the amount of space for fluid to pool into the damaged site. After an acute ligament sprain MacDonald (2004) believed that compressive strappings are the most recommended to prevent oedema. The clinician will also elevate the limb to reduce the amount of fluid congregating at the ankle joint due to gravitational force. Elevating the limb will help to reduce the swelling, pain and bleeding at the area. The ankle should be elevated to, or above, the level of the