Epidemiology

Around 30% to 50% of musculoskeletal (tendon/muscle/bone) injuries presenting to physicians are tendon and ligament injures. [2] Among those injuries, acute ankle injury is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries in athletes and sedentary people. It has been estimated that ankle sprain occurs at a rate of about one injury per 10,000 people per day. [3] In the US it accounts for an estimated 2 million injuries per year and 20% of all sports injuries. [4] [5] [6]

There is no gender difference, but the incidence depends on type of sports or activities. [7] A study in Australia showed that most injuries presenting to a sports medicine centre were a result of Australian football or distance running. [8] The most commonly injured region was the knee, followed by the upper arm and shoulder. Partial ligament strain accounted for 4% of injuries at this centre and third-degree ligament tear for 3.5% of case presentations.