Research shows 3-10% of A&E admissions are due to ankle sprains
Healthcare professionals often underestimate the seriousness of ankle injuries, which it has been estimated are costing the State up to €160 million a year in lost productivity and other aspects, a medical specialist has said.
"It is the seemingly 'trivial' nature of ankle sprains that makes them such a dangerous injury, one that is often underestimated and badly managed in healthcare," said Dr Brian Caulfield of the UCD school of physiotherapy and performance science.
UCD will host the Third International Ankle Symposium (IAS) from September 1st-3rd, which will be attended by health professionals from all over the world.
The conference will be attended by a variety of healthcare professionals from Ireland and abroad, including physiotherapists, surgeons, podiatrists and athletic trainers.
Keynote speakers from Europe, the US and Australia will deliver more than 60 presentations on international research relating to ankle sprains and instability.
Ankle sprain was by far the most common sporting injury, accounting for 45 per cent of all sports-related injuries, said Dr Caulfield.
"If we take research findings from a 1995 study carried out in Holland and apply them to Ireland, it is apparent that ankle sprains cost the Irish economy €160 million a year in direct healthcare and lost productivity costs," he said.
Previous research in the US, Scandinavia and the UK has also demonstrated that between 3 and 10 per cent of all admissions to A&E departments are as a result of ankle sprains.
"Clearly, this is an injury that is all-too-common and one that places a very large burden on our already overstretched health services," according to Dr Caulfield.
It is not uncommon for a person to receive no treatment for a sprain other than bandaging and pain-relief medication, he said. "Without proper rehabilitation, these patients are at great risk of sustaining a re-injury.
"This can lead to increased risk of osteoarthritis and a gradual withdrawal from physical activity with the consequent increased risk of cardiovascular disease and obesity," said Dr Caulfield.
He also explained that there was a lack of concrete evidence supporting any particular approach to the management of ankle sprains. "This is one of the reasons why having so many ankle experts together at the IAS is such a positive move," he said.
"The symposium will provide an excellent opportunity for conference delegates from different regions to meet and share ideas regarding the future of ankle instability research," Dr Caulfied added.
These interactions should provide a solid platform for the development of standards for future research and the formation of strong research collaborations, he said.
The ankle research team in UCD was the first international research team to examine closely how patients with ankle instability control ankle movement during loading activities such as landing from a jump or hopping.
"The fact that we have been selected to host this conference reflects the strong standing that the ankle research team in UCD has on the international stage," Dr Caulfield said.