The complex ligaments and bones of the ankle are severely tested in a sport like soccer, with its running, slide tackles and at-times lumpy fields. The ligaments are strong connective tissues like rubber bands that attach the 14 ankle bones to each other and the lower leg. The ankle, along with the knee, is a common place for hurting or pain in youth and adult soccer, as 60 percent of soccer injuries affect the lower extremities, state the authors of "Epidemiology of Pediatric Sports Injuries."
Sprains
While the speedsters of elite soccer most frequently suffer from hamstring strain, the most common injury in lower-level soccer is the sprained ankle. Ankle sprains account for 16 to 20 percent of all soccer injuries, according to a survey of sports medicine literature by Donald T. Kirkendall, a member of the FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre. Ankle sprains can result from a defender's slide tackle that contacts the dribbler's ankle and forces it to roll inside, damaging the ligaments found on the outside of the ankle. Landing after a jump on the foot of another player or a divot in the playing surface can also cause the ankle to roll.
Fracture
A pop when the injury occurs and pain over the outside of the ankle can indicate a fracture of the fibula, the smaller of the two bones connecting the knee and ankle. The ankle may swell immediately making it difficult to walk, note the authors of "The Female Athlete's Body Book." You may be able to walk even though the bone is broken, however, so seek medical attention if you have any reason to suspect a fracture.
Footballer's Ankle
Bony growths may develop on the front and back of the tibia and talus, a large bone in the ankle, as a result of repeated trauma to the joint, writes U.K.-based soccer physiologist Thomas Reilly. During strong kicking motions such as a shot or a long pass the ankle is locked with the toe pointed fully down in a position called plantar flexion. This creates pounding between the tibia and talus, as does the different motion of the pushing off the ground to start a sprint. These bony growths can be dislodged in the ankle, leading to a persistently painful condition typically called "footballer's ankle" in the U.K. and requiring surgical removal.
Prevention
You can borrow from techniques found in physical therapy to strengthen your ankle and prevent ankle sprains in the first place. The simplest exercise involves balancing on one leg and flexing the knee of the other. Hold each pose for five seconds and repeat 10 times per leg, Kirkendall advises. You can also pair up with a partner and toss a ball back and forth while balanced on one leg, with the other knee flexed, repeating on the opposite leg. Try another series with the hip also flexed.
