The Impact Of Ankle Sprains And Chronic Ankle Instability On Adolescents’ Physical Activity Levels

Ankle sprains and chronic ankle instability (CAI) have been quantified among an adult population. The prevalence of ankle sprain and CAI have not been explored among adolescents. Decreased physical activity has been shown among college-aged individuals with CAI, however, no evidence exists among high school students. This study examined the prevalence of ankle sprain and CAI and the relationship between ankle sprain history and PA among high school students. Methods: An online survey was conducted with students of a rural setting. The survey assessed ankle injury history, ankle instability and function, and PA. Respondents were placed into four groups based on ankle instability: 1) uninjured; 2) unstable; 3) copers; and 4) potentially unstable. Frequency of PA was compared across groups using analysis of variance, Kruskall-Wallis test 0.05 alpha level. Results: Of the participants 57% reported a history of ankle sprain and 29% reported CAI. A significant difference was found for PA unstable respondents reported more PA than uninjured respondents (unstable= 4706.05 ± 4610.56; uninjured=2592.93 ± 2946.02), with no differences between other groups. Conclusion: Respondents with CAI reported higher PA levels than uninjured participants, contrary to pre-existing hypotheses, it is possible that continued PA after injury may enhance sensations of instability.