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Injuries in Orienteering most often affect the lower extremity, mainly ankle and lower leg. Two thirds of acute injuries are caused by wounds and blisters. Up to 24% of acute injuries are acute ankle sprains. Overuse injuries are more common than acute injuries. Of them, chronic ankle instability, stress fractures, and the shin splint syndrome are very frequent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute ankle sprains (AAS) are the most frequent injuries in sports orthopaedics. Up to 40% of the patients with AAS develop chronic ankle instability (CAI) either as a mechanical (MAI) or functional ankle instability (FAI). Hypotheses: Orienteering is a high-risk sport for AAS and CAI. Within CAI, MAI and FAI may appear as single or combined entity. In professional athletes, high functional ankle stability may compensate MAI. Methods: 43 athletes of the Swiss Orienteering National Team (women, 20; men, 23) were examined clinically, and biomechanically with the Biodex Balance System (BBS). Results: The history of AAS was documented in 37 athletes (86%). Clinical and biomechanical examination showed that 37 ankles (43%) were stable, 49 (57%) evidenced CAI. The CAI subgroups were: (A) MAI with normal functional stability, 25 (29%); (B) FAI with normal mechanical stability, 18 (21%); and (C) combination of MAI and FAI, 6 (7%). Discussion: An orienteering athlete has high risk for AAS and the development of CAI. CAI exhibits three different subgroups: MAI alone, FAI alone, combination of MAI and FAI. In order to compensate MAI, and therefore long-term joint sequelae, specific training for improvement of functional ankle stability is advised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]