title: Increased frequency of ankle sprain does not lead to an increase in ligament laxity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ankle sprains are the most common injury in the active population. With high reinjury rates and complaints of the ankle "giving way," it has been suggested that laxity of ankle ligaments increases with repeated sprains. The objective of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between ligament laxity and the number of ankle sprains.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biomechanics laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 203 Division I collegiate athletes (84 women; 119 men; age, 18.5 ± 1.1 years; height, 178.5 ± 10.8 cm; mass, 79.8 ± 18.7 kg) participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each participant reported the number of previous sprains on each ankle. Ligament laxity was measured using an instrumented ankle arthrometer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measurements for anterior displacement (AD), inversion (IV), and eversion (EV) rotation of the ankle were obtained using an instrumented ankle arthrometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no relationship between ligament laxity and the number of ankle sprains in either direction (AD, P = 0.86; IV, P = 0.64; EV, P = 0.81). In addition, comparing ligament laxity between previously sprained ankles and ankles that have never been sprained resulted in no differences in the direction of movement (AD, P = 0.98; IV, P = 0.96; EV, P = 0.67).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite anecdotal evidence suggesting repeated ankle sprains increase ligament laxity, this report involving a large data set and a reliable measurement analysis found no relationship between the two. The results of this study make it necessary to rethink the causes of ligament laxity. Therefore, further research is necessary to understand the causes of "giving way" of the ankle and their role in repeated ankle sprains.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Evansville, Evansville, Indiana; †Biomechanics and Movement Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware; and ‡Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware.
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Geoff
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gustavsen
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kaminski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D053587:Arthrometry, Articular; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult