Ankle Sprain Age Risk

Risk for ankle sprains may vary by age.
In a USA Today (3/15) "Your Health" column, Kim Painter observes that, according to a study "of 82,971 sprained ankles" presented at the meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, "two people in 1,000 were treated in emergency departments for ankle sprains each year, but the risk varied greatly by age, reaching a peak of seven in 1,000 among teens ages 15 to 19." Not surprisingly, "49% of sprains occurred during athletic activities," and "27% of ankle sprains were linked to stair falls."