Evaluation of the sports ankle rating system in young, athletic individuals with acute lateral ankle sprains

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the Sports Ankle Rating System and provide the initial validation for its use. As its name implies, this outcomes measurement system is intended for use in assessing the functional outcomes of athletes with ankle injuries. This unique system consists of three distinct instruments: the Quality of Life Measure, the Clinical Rating Score, and the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation. We began the validation process of the Sports Ankle Rating System with subjects who had sustained lateral ankle sprains because this is the most common injury in sports. The results of this study indicate that the Sports Ankle Rating System is: 1. effective at assessing the impact that an ankle sprain has on an athlete's functional and psychosocial status, 2. responsive to changes in an athlete's ankle-related health status, and 3. valid and reliable as tested.