One ankle sprain can change the course of your life. When does that happen? When one injury leads to another and another until you have a condition called chronic ankle instability (CAI). Every day in the United States, 23,000 people sprain their ankles. More than two-thirds of those folks will end up with CAI.

I am a 16 year old female soccer player. I broke my foot at the navicular in 6/07 and was in cast and rehab for 3 months. I went back to soccer in Oct and played with pain. In 2/08 I was slide tackled from behind and was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain. The MRI showed a ganglion cyst in the bone, a partial tear in a ligament above my ankle and various other issues. In 4/08 I had the Kidner procedure to remove some bone from my broken foot and to reattach the tendon. I was in a non weight bearing cast for 6 weeks and then had 4 mths of physical therapy.

Most experts agree the road to recovery and prevention of reinjuries is a solid, consistent rehab program at the time of the acute sprain. Once the swelling is under control and the acute injury has been dealt with, then it's time to retrain the joints and soft tissues.

Ankle sprains are very common injuries. Multiple sprains are not uncommon -- especially when the damage hasn't been repaired. Even minor changes in sensation, motor control, and proprioception (joint sense of position) can lead to reinjuries.

Ankle rehab has a major role in restoring normal joint function. A physical therapist can help you regain proprioceptive sense, motion, and strength. Specific training for balance, postural control, and proprioception is essential.

In the sports world, an ankle sprain is big news. Such injuries account for many days missed in training and in competition. An acute ankle sprain that isn't treated properly can result in chronic weakness, pain, and instability. In such cases, recurring sprains are common and can lead to disability and the end of a promising career.

It sounds like your son may have a history of previous ankle sprains. A history of ankle sprains increases the risk of sprain recurrence. Shoe wear does not seem to make a difference.

Studies of athletes wearing high-top versus low top basketball shoes do not show a significant reduction of ankle injuries in one group over another. High-tops with inflatable chambers were also tested. They weren't any more protective than other shoe types.

An accurate diagnosis is always the best way to provide a healing plan of care. Examination by a sports medicine or orthopedic physician is advised. Acute ankle injuries can be either high or low. Low ankle sprains involve damage to any of the short ligaments that hold the bones of the ankle together and stabilize the ankle.

You are asking about the natural history of a condition called osteochondral lesion of the talus (OTL). Other terms used to describe OLT include osteochondritis dissecans, transchondral fracture, talar dome fracture, and flake fracture.

Ankle sprains are very common among athletes and sports participants. What's the best way to prevent an ankle sprain? Is it high top shoes? Wearing a brace of some sort? Taping the ankle? In this report, sports medicine experts review type of ankle injury and goals of treatment. Prevention of both primary (first-time) ankle sprains and reinjury is also discussed.

I sprained my ankle on the job. It swelled right away but the pain somewhat ceased after about a hour. I continued to work for 2 days until the pain was so unbearable I had to go to the ER. I am currently in litagation with my employer, and their doctor claims that I am lying about my injury. I had a level 2 sprain. So I guess what they are saying is that the pain should have been terrible from the very beginning. I was just wondering if anyone else had ever experienced an ankle injury that got worse over a 2 day span?