Prevention Strategies of Ankle Injuries

Ankle injuries are the most common across multiple sports, with around one in every four sports injuries being located at the ankle. An ankle sprain may not only sideline the athlete but also pose a significant risk of recurrence, potentially leading to chronic pain and instability. Several preventive straegies (prophylactic taping, bracing, and neuromuscular training) have been developed and are implemented to mitigate the risk of injury or re-injury. Understanding these preventive strategies is crucial for athletes, coaches, and healthcare providers to ensure optimal performance and long-term athletic participation. This chapter will discuss the available preventive measures and strategies for preventing ankle sprains. First, a pragmatic approach toward injury prevention, after which several general preventive measures to be employed will be presented and described in-depth. Then, this chapter will finish with general considerations regarding implementing prevention measures within sports.