Background: Ankle sprains are the most common musculoskeletal injuries that occur in athletes all over the world. Ankle sprains can also cause longterm disability such as Ankle pain, Functional Ankle instability, postural disorders, recurrent Ankle sprain and etc.Methods: The purpose of this study was to examine prospectively intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors for Ankle sprains in 125 Irainin athletes that were divided into two groups: Healthy and Injured groups. Ankle range of motions, Achilles Tendon’s flexibility and Calf’s size were measured and related questionnaire was completed.Results: Ankle sprains were more common in soccer, basketball and volleyball than other sports. Severe Ankle inversion was the most common (94.4%) mechanism of Ankle sprain. Fatigue, not warming up, improper landing, Ankle rotations were expressed by the athletes as the main reasons causing their Ankle sprains. There were no significant differences between ages, weight, height, training sessions, playing surfaces, foot wears and Ankle sprains. Most interestingly was the significant relation between balance training and Ankle sprain prevention (P value=0.00574).Conclusion: The intrinsic factors such as fatigue, not warming up, improper landing were most common risk factors for Ankle sprain in Iranian athletes. One of the main findings of the present study was the positive role of balance training as a key factor in prevention of Ankle sprains.

Background: Ankle foot orthoses are effective in controlling wide-range orthopedic deformities. Two difference methods (prefabricated and custom-made) were used for construction of AFOs. However, the high cost of custom devices prevents some patients from purchasing them. Some patients and orthotics prefer to prefabricated devices. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the prefabricated AFOs (PAFO) can provide similar pressure distribution as custom-made AFO (MAFO) in healthy people.Objective: The purpose of the current study was to the comparison of two different fabrication methods of AFO by plantar pressure in asymptomatic adults.Methods: In this study, peak pressures (PP) were recorded with Pedar-x system while pressure insole was placed between foot and AFO. Twenty-four subjects participated in this study completed a total of three 8-m walking trials in each of two types of AFOs. Results: The PP was significantly decreased in the heel (P<0.004), first metatarsal (P<0.001), and second metatarsal head regions (P<0.003) in MAFO when compared to PAFO but PP was significantly decreased in second toe (P<0.027) and toes 3-5 (P<0.003) regions in PAFO in comparison with MAFO. No significant differences were observed at the other regions.Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that significant differences were observed in PP at the almost regions when comparing two AFOs. So they should carefully prescribe for using with various disorders.

Introduction: To investigate whether a neoprene Ankle support and elastic bandage around the Ankle joint of subjects with Ankle sprain (grad I & II) would, in short term (a) reduce pain (b) improve Ankle joint position sense and comparison of their effect with each other if they have. Materials & Methods: In a semi-experimental study, 30 subjects (16 men, 14 women, age between 16-52) with Ankle sprain grade I & II). Subjects had to have at least 2cm from 10cm visual analogue scale (VAS) of Ankle pain for study entry. All patients were randomly assigned to either an elastic bandage or a neoprene Ankle support. One week later they were assigned to the opposite selection. Joint position sense was assessed in the sitting. Position using an electrogoniometer and pain by VAS where 0cm equals no pain and 10cm equals worst pain. Ankle pain and JPS were assessed for each selection one week apart. During each visit assessment were performed at base line and after 20min of bandage/neoprene Ankle support application. Findings: The mean of scores for Ankle variables JPS and VAS was taken and paired-t test and Wilcoxon signed rank test was employed to calculate the different between two trails. Neoprene Ankle support had significant effect on Ankle JPS (p=0.034). But elastic bandaged had no effect (P=0.539). Both of them had significantly reduced Ankle pain. (P=0.000) Conclusion: In subjects with both neoprene Ankle support and elastic bandage reduced Ankle pain with more effect of neoprene Ankle support. Only the neoprene Ankle support had effect on knee JPS.