October 9, 2012
Topic: ankle injuries
One of the most common ailments for athletes are ankle injuries, especially sprains. There are around 25,000 individuals who experience this mishap every day, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The prevalence of this injury is most likely high because it can happen during both physical activity and while engaging in everyday tasks. For instance, even just stepping on an uneven surface can cause your foot to twist, roll or turn beyond its normal motion, resulting in an ankle sprain.
Kathryn Schabel, an orthopaedic surgeon, told Men's Fitness Magazine that ankle training and being aware of the terrain is important in preventing ankle injuries.
"The stronger your leg muscles are, the less likely you are to sprain an ankle," said Schabel, as quoted by the news source. "And, the more accustomed your brain is to anticipating and firing those muscles, the less injury-prone you will be."
There are some simple exercises that individuals can do to strengthen their ankles, such as balancing with one foot on a balance disc and tossing a medicine ball while standing on one foot. For people who do experience a sprain, something that they can do right away is follow RICE, which stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation - to promote the healing process.
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