Ankle Sprains and RICE
Research Assessment #1
Source:
"Ankle Sprain: Symptoms, Ankle Pain, Swelling, and More." WebMD. WebMD, 31 July 2014. Web.
13 Sept. 2015. <http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/ankle-sprains>.
Date:
September 13th, 2015
Analysis:
Sports physicians and orthopedic surgeons encounter a variety of injuries ranging from hamstring pulls to concussions, but one of the most common injuries they work to prevent and treat are ankle sprains. The actual injury itself ranges in severity, but is caused by a stretched or torn ligament. The most common symptoms of ankle sprains include swelling, bruising, and instability. Due to the high number of these kinds of injuries in sports, one of my focuses in ISM this year will be to work on a solution or better way to prevent these injuries.
Ankle sprains will definitely be a consistent part of my research this year in ISM. According to the article, there are on average 25,000 sprains daily, and they are definitely something that have had a personal impact. Throughout my years playing basketball, I’ve seen numerous friends and teammates sprain their ankles, and it is painful to see someone so passionate about what he does lose the ability to play. Although ankle sprains are not as severe as other injuries including but not limited to ACL tears and achilles tears, due to their high frequency and prevalence in popular sports, my final product may very well be a way to help athletes who love what they do avoid tearing their ligaments.
As stated in the article, one of the most common methods of dealing with soreness and sprains is the RICE method. This treatment method stands for rest, ice, compress, and elevate. These steps are to be applied to the injured area, and are very common in how people deal with their own injuries. As the year progresses, I would like to research why this technique is so effective, especially for more minor injuries. I believe that there by learning the ins and outs of RICE, I may not only be able to expedite treatment, but also make the muscles and injured areas stronger as a result.
The current ways to prevent ankle sprains include stretching, wearing proper shoes, and taking caution when walking or running on uneven surfaces, as stated in the article. Although these are all efficient, I will further look into a method that possibly increases ankle resistance over time. For example, ankle braces can be an effective way to prevent twists and sprains, but prolonged usage can cause the ankle to become dependent on the brace. I believe that a proper program can be developed that uses the braces as a way to increase the strength of the ankle as the athlete recuperates.
Sports medicine is an adaptive field; it changes as the nature of sports themselves change. However, there is still much to be discovered, and I want to be the one that takes injury prevention to the next level. As the intensity of sports increases, the necessity and demand for ways to prevent injuries will also increase, and that is quite possibly one of the reasons that the career outlook for sports medicine is positive.
