Lateral Ankle Sprain and Subsequent Ankle Sprain Risk: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the evidence regarding the association between lateral ankle sprain (LAS) history and the subsequent LAS risk, as well as sex differences in the observed associations. Data Sources PubMed, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus were searched through July 2020 for articles on LAS history and incidence during the study period. Study Selection Studies were included if they were prospective in nature and the authors reported the number of participants with and those without a history of LAS at study initiation as well as the number of participants in each group who sustained an LAS during the investigation. Data Extraction Data were study design parameters as well as the number of participants with and those without an LAS history and the number of subsequent LASs that occurred in both groups. Risk ratios (RRs) with 95% CIs compared the risk of LAS during the study period between those with and those without an LAS history for each investigation. Data Synthesis A total of 19 studies involving 6567 patients were included. The follow-up periods ranged from 14 weeks to 2 years. Assessment scores indicated the studies were of moderate to high quality. A significantly higher risk of LAS during the study period was observed among those with a history of LAS in 10 of 15 studies (RR range = 1.29–6.06). Similar associations were seen in 4 of 6 studies of all-male samples (RR range = 1.38–8.65) and 1 of 4 studies with an all-female sample (RR = 4.28). Conclusions Strong evidence indicates that a previous LAS increased the risk of a subsequent LAS injury. Men with a history of LAS appeared to be at a higher risk of sustaining a subsequent LAS, but women were not. However, further data are needed to draw definitive conclusions from the limited number of sex-specific studies.