MAY 2010 NEWSLETTER Sinus Self Care Archives Ankle Sprains, Biomechanics, Injury, Treatment Strategies Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries yet one of the most poorly treated injuries because they are not taken very seriously. Yes, they can heal without much medical attention but they also tend to reoccur and become chronic problems. Biomechanics First let's look at ankle anatomy. The ankle joint is what is known as a mortise joint. The two lower anklebones form an expandable "mortise" which sits over the spool-shaped head of the talus bone. (See ill. 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5) Notice as you look at illustration 2 that the front of the talus head is slightly wider than the rear. As the foot is flexed upwards the talus head rolls beneath the mortise. Because the talus is wider in front, the more the foot is drawn up, the more the two anklebones spread. A strong band of fibrous tissue runs between the two bones to keep them together as does the ligaments around the ankle joint. (See ill. 3, 4) Mechanism of injury The ankle normally makes a sweeping tipping motion from side to side as well as pointing up and down. The most common ankle sprain is what we call an inversion injury. All it takes to turn the foot inwards (inversion) is to step on and uneven surface suddenly. The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Movementwise makes no representation or warranty regarding the accuracy, reliability, completeness, currentness, or timeliness of the content, text or graphics. Links to other sites are provided for information only - they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Copyright 2006