Time-loss and recurrence rates after lateral ankle ligament sprains in male elite football players: summary of a systematic review and meta-analysis

A literature search was conducted to systematically review and meta-analyse time-loss and recurrence rates of lateral ankle sprains (LAS) in male professional football players. Six electronic databases were screened separately for time-loss and recurrence rates after lateral ankle sprains in elite football players. A total of 13 (recurrence) and 12 (time-loss) studies met the previously defined inclusion criteria. The total sample size of the recurrence studies was 36.201 participants (44.404 overall initial injuries, 7944 initial ankle sprain (AS) injuries, 1193 recurrent AS injuries). 16.442 professional football players (4893 initial AS injuries, 748 recurrent AS injuries) were subsequently meta-analysed. A recurrence rate of 17.11% (95% CI: 13.31-20.92%; df=12; Q=19.53; I (2) =38.57%) was determined based on the random-effects model. A total of 7736 participants were part of the time-loss studies (35.888 total injuries, 4848 total ankle injuries; 3370 AS injuries). Out of the 7736 participants, 7337 participants met the inclusion criteria with a total of 3346 AS injuries. The average time-loss was 15 days (weighted mean: 15.92, median: 14.95, min: 9.55; max: 52.9). A priori, we determined considerable heterogeneity (CI: 18.15-22.08; df=11; Q=158; I (2) =93%). There is an average time-loss of 15 days per LAS and a recurrence rate of 17%. LAS is one of the most common types of injury with high recurrence rates in professional football players. The high recurrence rates and long-term consequences show the necessity for research in the field of LAS in elite football. However, heterogeneous data lead to difficulties regarding the aspect of comparability.

Automated summary

A literature search was conducted to review and analyse the time-loss and recurrence rates of lateral ankle sprains (LAS) in male professional football players. The study found that the recurrence rate of LAS in professional football players is 17% and the average time-loss is 15 days.