Effect of Shoe Stiffness on Injury Produced Under External Rotation of the Foot in Human Cadavers

Ankle sprain is a common occurrence in sports, accounting for 10–30% of injuries ⁹. Injury to the lateral ligamentous complex occurs under excessive foot inversion and is known as a “lateral ankle sprain” ¹. Injury to the anterior deltoid ligament (ADL), which consists of the tibionavicular ligament (TiNL) and the anterior tibiotalar ligament (ATiTL), is known as a “medial ankle sprain” ¹³. High ankle sprains occur in the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis, which is comprised of the anterior and posterior tibiofibular ligaments (ATiFL and PTiFL) and the interosseous ligament (IOL) ². While approximately 85% of ankle sprains are lateral ankle injuries, syndesmotic (high) and medial injuries typically result in more time off the field. The mechanism of both high and medial ankle sprain is commonly ascribed to excessive internal rotation of the upper body, while the foot is planted on the playing surface.