Have you ever sprained your ankle while trail running and felt like you’d never fully recovered? The following column will help you better understand some aspects of your injury.

Lateral ankle sprains are the most common injury to the lower limbs, accounting for 16% to 40% of all sports injuries (1).

Trail running is a popular activity among triathlon enthusiasts. Among other things, it offers a variety of ground contact surfaces and breaks the monotony of the road. However, the transition to trail running requires the athlete to develop certain technical skills to negotiate descents and turns safely.

In the absence of complications such as fracture or ligament rupture, lateral ankle sprains can appear self-limiting, leading to an early return to running without full recovery. Among lower-limb injuries, it tops the list for the highest number of recurrences. In the year following the trauma, the risk of suffering a new sprain is doubled (2). Damage to the neurosensory structures of the lateral ligaments is thought to be responsible for the impaired balance (proprioception) observed in injured runners. Rehabilitation of the proprioceptive system should be an integral part of the reathletization process after a lateral ankle sprain.

The chiropractor’s role

• Determine whether or not to start conservative treatment with a complete initial examination.
• Develop a rehabilitation protocol with the patient and propose activities adapted to the different phases of recovery and trail running.

If necessary, visit www.CCSSQ.ca to find a chiropractor near you who is passionate about sports.

References

1. Halabchi F, Hassabi M. Acute ankle sprain in athletes: Clinical aspects and algorithmic approach. World J Orthop. 2020;11(12):534-58.
2. Delahunt E, Bleakley CM, Bossard DS, Caulfield BM, Docherty CL, Doherty C, et al. Clinical assessment of acute lateral ankle sprain injuries (ROAST): 2019 consensus statement and recommendations of the International Ankle Consortium. Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(20):1304-10.