Ankle injuries in football academies: a three-centre prospective study

Abstract

The incidence of ankle injury in youth soccer is higher in competition, and increases with age in competition. 17.5% of ankle injuries missed more than 6 weeks' training, but the authors found a subgroup of players with delay in returning to sport in whom there was no further investigation to establish the diagnosis. This group may harbour occult injury to the chondral surfaces, and earlier investigation could minimise secondary joint damage in this 'at risk' age group.