[Evaluation an altered neurophysiological functions of motor branches of deep peroneal nerve in lateral ankle sprain patients]

Inversion sprain is a result of abnormal forces of plantar flexion and inversion applied to the lateral side of the ankle. This injury recurs in 10% of non-athletes and 80% of athletes. It is believed that Changes in conduction of deep peroneal nerve following inversion sprain and instability occurred following it, to be a cause of recurrence of inversion sprain. Evaluation of the motor branches of deep peroneal nerve in inversion sprain in non-athletes persons is the base of this study. Mechanical instability is assessed through anterior drawer test and talar tilt test and electrical assessment is done first and four weeks after injury in 11 patients in each mechanical instability group of the ankle. All patients had the first incidence of unilateral inversion sprain and normal side was considered as control in the same patient. Electrical assessment of deep peroneal nerve included following: [1] Deep peroneal nerve motor conduction studies in three levels of knee, leg and ankle, [2] Electrical evaluation of tibialis anterior muscle both at rest and minimal contraction. Studies revealed significant changes in temporal dispersion in three levels of knee, below the head of fibula and ankle and motor latency in knee and ankle levels both at the first and second evaluation and motor nerve conduction velocity in leg at the first session in two extremities but no significant difference between mechanical instability was noticed. Also there was a significant difference in recruitment interval of tibialis anterior muscle in comparison of normal and involved extremity and mechanical instability at both sessions. Findings of this study indicated that in lateral ankle sprain deep peroneal nerve incurs is happened and its prognosis is dependent on severity of nerve involvement and grade of instability

[Study of functional-performance deficits in athletes with previous ankle sprains]

Despite the importance of functional-performance deficits in athletes with history of ankle sprain few, studies have been carried out in this area. The aim of this research was to study relationship between previous ankle sprains and functional-performance deficits in athletes. The subjects were 40 professional athletes selected through random sampling among volunteer participants in soccer, basketball, volleyball and handball teams of Lorestan province. The subjects were divided into 2 groups: Injured group [athletes with previous ankle sprains] and healthy group [athletes without previous ankle sprains]. In this descriptive study we used Functional-performance tests [figure 8 hop test and side hop test] to determine ankle deficits and limitations. They participated in figure 8 hop test including hopping in 8 shape course with the length of 5 meters and side hop test including 10 side hop repetitions in course with the length of 30 centimeters. Time were recorded via stopwatch. After data gathering and assessing information distributions, Pearson correlation was used to assess relationships, and independent T test to assess differences between variables. Finally the results showed that there is a significant relationship between previous ankle sprains and functional-performance deficits in the athletes. The athletes who had previous ankle sprains indicated functional-performance deficits more than healthy athletes in completion of mentioned functional-performance tests. The functional-performance tests [figure 8 hop test and side hop test] are sensitive and suitable to assess and detect functional-performance deficits in athletes. Therefore we can use the figure 8 hop and side hop tests for goals such as prevention, assessment and rehabilitation of ankle sprains without spending too much money and time

Esguince de tobillo: diagnostico y tratamiento / Ankle sprain: diagnosis and treatment

El esguince del cuello del pie es una lesion cuya frecuencia ha aumentado notablemente en los ultimos anos como consecuencia del auge en las practicas deportivas. Es una lesion incapacitante, molesta y cuyo tratamiento inicial es definitivo para el futuro de la articulacion, pues una secuela importante es la recidiva funcional de la lesion. Durante mucho tiempo el manejo del esguince se ha hecho inmovilizando en una bota de yeso, sin importar su grado, para dar asi una solucion simplista al problema, lo que ocasiona, en primer lugar, una larga incapacidad y, en segundo, un porcentaje importante de fracasos, pues son muchos los pacientes que consultan por esguince recidivante del tobillo, hecho este que incapacita al paciente para el desarrollo de sus practicas deportivas en algunos casos, y en otros durante la marcha normal en terrenos irregulares. Como muy bien se explica en el articulo que comentamos, la concepcion terapeutica actual de estas lesiones del cuello del pie ha cambiado fundamentalmente. Si recordamos que esguince significa lesion parcial o total de un ligamento o de un grupo de ellos, entonces el punto por definir es si el paciente presenta o no inestabilidad