Methods
Eight competitive female gymnasts of mean
age of 16.2 years (range 14 to 18 years) were
included in this study.
All subjects, with right lower limb dominance,
reported a past history of at least three
inversion injuries to one ankle only, which
required protected weightbearing and immobilisation.
A manual evaluation for anteroposterior
stability of each ankle was performed. In
all eight affected ankles, the anterior drawer
sign was positive, as shown by the greater
forward excursion of the injured compared to
the uninjured foot. Four suffered right ankle
sprains; four left ankle recurrent sprains. The
sprains were never accompanied by a fracture
of the ankle osseous elements. During the four
months before testing, all subjects were fully
weightbearing, pain-free, and the functional
use of the ankle was unimpaired.