Prevalence and characteristics of chronic ankle instability and copers identified by the criteria for research and clinical practice in collegiate athletes

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of chronic ankle instability (CAI) and copers among collegiate athletes as identified by criteria for research (CAI-R and copers-R) and for clinical practice (CAI-C and copers-C).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: University.

Participants: Collegiate athletes (n = 507).

Main outcome measures: Participants were assessed by questionnaires based on the International Ankle Consortium guidelines. The percentages of participants with CAI-R, CAI-C, copers-R and copers-C were calculated, respectively. Demographic and injury data were statistically compared between CAI-R and copers-R groups.

Results: The data of 470 participants was retained after exclusions. Of these, the prevalence of CAI-R (10.0%) was only half of that of CAI-C (19.8%), and that of copers-R and copers-C was about 5%. Seventy percent of unclassifiable participants had recurrent ankle sprains. CAI was most common in basketball, while copers were less prevalent in basketball, judo, rugby and gymnastics. The age at the initial injury was significantly younger in the CAI-R participants than in the copers-R.

Conclusions: The type of sport and the age at the initial injury may be associated with developing CAI. The standard criteria may not capture the entire clinical CAI population, therefore, care should be taken when applying the research to clinical practice.

Keywords: Ankle ligament injury; Ankle sprain; Recurrent sprain; Sports injury.