Ankle Injuries in Female Athletes

Female participation in sports has steadily increased over the past several decades, and so has the prevalence of injuries in the female athletic population. However, there has not been a concomitant increase in the literature discussing the specific injury patterns more common in this population. In particular, the incidence in ankle injuries is higher in female athletes compared to their male counterparts, specifically acute ligament, syndesmotic sprains, and chronic instability. This chapter aims to describe these ankle injuries with focus on the female athlete. We offer sex-specific treatment and rehabilitation strategies with the goal of providing improved care for the female athlete who sustains ankle injury.