Lateral Ankle Sprain

It is well known today that the ankle is the joint of the body most exposed to trauma. Indeed, by virtue of its anatomical location, the ankle bears the entire weight of the body, and its load per square centimeter is the greatest if we compare it to all other joints (Fallat et al., 1998). Generally speaking, ankle sprains involve partial or total stretching or tearing of one or more ligaments in the ankle joint, following an involuntary twisting movement that exceeds the normal limits of the joint (Cooke et al., 2009).

The most common mechanism of injury is inversion of the foot into plantar flexion (plantar flexion and calcaneal varus), which stresses the lateral collateral ligament and often impacts the anterior fibular tendons (Hertel et al., 2002). In order to gain a better understanding of the mechanism of injury in lateral ankle sprains, and to develop optimal management with patients, we will discuss the pathophysiology, assessment, and management of lateral ankle sprains.