Is technology-enriched rehabilitation the game changer for ankle injuries?

Lateral ankle sprains (LAS) are one of the most common injuries, with 50% occurring during sport and physical activity and 50% occurring during other activities of daily life. This costs NHS Emergency Departments £1-2 billion annually. Following one ankle injury, risk of re-injury increases six-fold and up to 70% of cases develop chronic ankle instability (CAI), associated with recurrent sprains, pain, instability, and poor mental health (Hertel and Corbett, 2019). A link between CAI and ankle osteoarthritis has been established with 80% of cases a sequela trauma (e.g., following LAS), impacting individuals and society. This progression from LAS to CAI to ankle osteoarthritis is known as the ankle injury continuum.