Management and Return to Play of the Elite Athlete for Common Sports-Related Injuries About the Ankle

Ankle injuries are among the common injuries seen in many collegiate and professional sports. The wide range of pathology, pathophysiology, mechanisms of injury, differences in sport demands, evolution of treatment, and variable return to play (RTP) timelines make it difficult, at times, for physicians to treat these injuries. Modern diagnostic tools, surgical treatment devices, and rehabilitation protocols have allowed for more accurate and rapid diagnosis, an improved ability to reestablish normal anatomy, and accelerated RTP for many ankle sports-related injuries. This summary will provide up-to-date, evidence-based, treatment options for common sports-related ankle injuries along with the authors preferred method of treatment and RTP algorithms for the elite athlete.