Acute injuries

Question 1

Most common ligament injuries

Answer 1

MCL and ACL with lateral ankle sprains being the most common injury sports

Question 2

What is articular effusion

Answer 2

Swelling related to structures within a joint capsule (ACL tear) will not leave the limits of the capsule when palpation takes place.

Question 3

Why can swelling appear distal to the structure it is relating to.

Answer 3

Gravity can move the swelling distally if the limb has not been elevated.

Question 4

Ligament stress test grades

Answer 4

Grade 1 - some fibres, no increases in laxity, firm end feel but reproduction of pain.
Grade 2 - large proportion of fibres, increase in laxity, firm end feel, reproduction of pain
Grade 3 - complete tear, increases laxity, no end feel may not have pain due to loss of nociceptors (normally do damage to other structures)

Compare laxity to unaffected side

Question 5

Ankle impingement

Answer 5

This is a condition in which EOR dorsiflexion causes pain at the front of the ankle while EOR plantar gives pain at the back. Meaning that the closed packed positions cause the pain.

Question 6

Chronic ankle instability

Answer 6

• Multiple ankle sprains
• Episodes related to ‘giving away’
• Feelings of instability
• Impediments in balance, dorsiflexion ROM, joint glides (decreased mainly TC due to decreased dorsi ROM) and muscular strength (either at the ankle or in proximal areas)