The chronicity of ankle sprain among Netball Players

Abstract

A systematic review focussed on reporting chronic ankle instability within sporting literature confirmed that, not only were aspects of chronic ankle instability across all sports seldom described, netball is a sport scarcely studied in terms of chronic ankle instability. Ninety-three percent of netball players with a previous ankle sprain were defined as having chronic ankle instability. Of those with a previous ankle sprain, 47% had a history of recurrent sprain and 88% reported perceived ankle instability. Netball players participating at a club level showed more cases of moderate-severe perceived ankle instability compared to inter-district level players, as well as greater mechanical laxity measures. Risk factors for ankle sprains sustained during netball participation were assessed over one sporting season and one was revealed; a reach distance in the posterior-medial direction of the star excursion balance test of ≤77.5 % of leg length. Despite this result, a previous ankle sprain was not found to affect the balance abilities of netball players. Netball players with chronic ankle instability were found to display altered frontal plane landing mechanics during two netball specific tasks. During a cutting task, an instability group demonstrated a less inverted ankle position for 40 % of the stance phase, as well as alterations to the timing of maximum inversion and eversion velocities and peak inversion angles. During a catch-and-stop task, an instability group exhibited a faster maximum eversion velocity that occurred closer to initial contact. Original research within this thesis recognised that chronic ankle instability is highly prevalent within a netball cohort and alters specific frontal plane ankle kinematics during sport specific tasks. The balance abilities of netball players were not affected by a previous ankle sprain; however, a shorter reach distance in the star excursion balance test was identified as a risk factor for ankle sprain.