Ankle Sprain — Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI) — Non-Operative

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center · OSU Sports Medicine

Weight-Bearing

FWB; no acute WB restrictions; bracing/taping for functional activities

Key Restrictions

CAI defined as instability persisting >6 months post-sprain; no acute injury restrictions; no inversion or eversion restrictions; talocrural/hindfoot/midfoot mobilizations; peroneal neuropathy screening (repeated sprains may propagate); Beighton Scale for systemic hypermobility; hindfoot/midfoot alignment assessment

Timeline & Phases

2 phases: Phase I Acute/Return to Activity, Phase II Return to Sport/Discharge; criterion-based throughout; no strict time-based phase durations

Notes

.edu site; CPG format; 2019; covers chronic not acute ankle sprain; return to sport criteria: subjective outcome >90%, DF lunge >7.5 cm, Y-Balance >90% composite, Foot Lift Test <5 errors, hop testing >90% LSI; outcome tools: FAAM, TSK-11, Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool; risk factors table (modifiable and non-modifiable); differential diagnosis: peroneal neuropathy, peroneal tendinopathy, syndesmotic instability, cuboid syndrome, osteochondral lesion

Surgeon / Author

OSU Sports Medicine

Published

2019