Influence of Chronic Ankle Instability on Physical Activity: A Critically Appraised Topic

Abstract

Lateral ankle sprains are the most common injury sustained by physically active individuals. The overwhelming majority of people who sprain their ankle go on to develop chronic ankle instability (CAI). CAI may cause affected individuals to limit their physical activity, leading to health issues such as obesity and cardiovascular disease. The growing body of literature suggests that functional limitations reported by individuals with CAI may lead a the decrease in physical activity. This critically appraised topic sought to determine if adolescent and college-aged individuals with CAI have lower physical activity levels than their healthy peers. A literature search was conducted in between August 2021–February 2022 using the terms “chronic ankle instability” and “physical activity.” Studies were included if the participants were adolescent or college-aged and had CAI. Three studies meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. The first study reported that college students with CAI walk fewer steps per week than their healthy peers, while the second study observed higher physical activity levels among adolescents with CAI. The third study incorporated details on how there is a high prevalence of ankle injury in adolescents, so methods to prevent the injury should be followed to avoid injury earlier on. Despite the conflicting evidence on how CAI impacts physical activity levels, physical activity remains important for long-term health. Thus, it is necessary to emphasize that individuals with CAI should seek treatment to mitigate recurrent ankle sprains in order to safely continue with physical activity.