Ankle sprains can happen during the simplest of activities, so it is no surprise that they are one of the most frequent injuries among athletes, especially tennis players. Usually caused by the foot striking the ground unevenly, the sprain comes from the ‘rolling’ of the ankle joint either inward or usually outward, which can stretch or otherwise damage the ligaments connecting the joint.
In the case of the former world no. 1, Maria Sharapova, an awkward landing from a serve caused her to overstretch her left ankle at the Tokyo Pan Pacific Open in 2011. The ankle was immediately checked by her physio, with the swelling and pain providing a clear indication that the game was over. Later MRI examination confirmed the ankle was simply sprained with no more serious damage (read more here).
In this MRI image, which shows a cross section of the ankle, the discontinuity of the ligament fibres can be seen by the bright white area, which represents a rupture of the anterior talofibular ligament (arrow).
Note: image is an example – not that of the athlete named above.
Although twisted ankles usually only involve stretched and swollen ligaments, patients are often sent for an x-ray of the joint to rule out any serious damage, such as a fracture. Elite athletes will often have an additional MRI examination to get a closer look at the tissue damage. Trained radiologists know exactly what signs to look out for on x-ray and MRI images and can pass on crucial information to the patient or referring physician, which helps to plan recovery.
For more information on ankle injury diagnosis, click here.