Physical Activity Levels One Year after an Acute Lateral Ankle Sprain

Acute lateral ankle sprains (LAS) are the most common musculoskeletal injury. It is currently unclear the impact an acute LAS has on physical activity levels. PURPOSE: To examine the physical activity levels before and one year after an acute LAS. METHODS: Twelve college students subjects (6 males and 6 females, age=21.7± 2.7yr., mass=79.4±20.4kg, ht=174.2±11.5cm) with an acute LAS participated in the study. Subjects reported to the lab within 3 days after spraining their ankle. Subjects were given the international physical activity questionnaire and NASA physical activity status scale to estimate their physical activity levels the week before they were injured. They completed the same questionnaires one year after the injury. RESULTS: The subjects scored significantly less on “average time spent performing vigorous physical activity” (p = .04) and “average time spent performing moderate physical activity” (p = .02) one year after injury compared to before the LAS (Table 1). Subjects with a LAS also spent significantly less time during an average day walking (p = .01), and had significantly less days per week where they pursued vigorous activity (p = .02) or moderate activity (p = .04) one year after their sprain compared to before the injury occurred.Table I: Mean (±SD) for dependent variables.CONCLUSION: Based on current data, it appears one year after a LAS subjects are significantly less physically active. Further research is needed to understand why subjects have decreased physical activity, as this decreased activity could lead to the development of other chronic injuries and illness. Supported by NATA Research and Education Foundation