title: National Athletic Trainers' Association position statement: conservative management and prevention of ankle sprains in athletes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present recommendations for athletic trainers and other allied health care professionals in the conservative management and prevention of ankle sprains in athletes.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Because ankle sprains are a common and often disabling injury in athletes, athletic trainers and other sports health care professionals must be able to implement the most current and evidence-supported treatment strategies to ensure safe and rapid return to play. Equally important is initiating preventive measures to mitigate both first-time sprains and the chance of reinjury. Therefore, considerations for appropriate preventive measures (including taping and bracing), initial assessment, both short- and long-term management strategies, return-to-play guidelines, and recommendations for syndesmotic ankle sprains and chronic ankle instability are presented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recommendations included in this position statement are intended to provide athletic trainers and other sports health care professionals with guidelines and criteria to deliver the best health care possible for the prevention and management of ankle sprains. An endorsement as to best practice is made whenever evidence supporting the recommendation is available.
authors.affiliation: National Athletic Trainers’ Association, Communications Department, 2952 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75247, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kaminski
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hertel
authors.forename: Ned
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amendola
authors.forename: Carrie L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Docherty
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.forename: J Ty
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nussbaum
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Poppy
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Richie
mesh_terms: D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000628:therapy; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D055052:Athletic Tape; D001915:Braces; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017679:Cryotherapy; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005080:Exercise Test; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000628:therapy; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D010808:Physical Examination; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012146:Rest; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012775:Shoes; D013178:Sports Medicine; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal