Professional Athletes Aren't Exempt From Subluxing Peroneals

Lately I have been paying attention to a couple of sports injuries where players have gotten Subluxing Peroneal Tendons. Ankle sprains most often happen while a person is being physically active, and professional athletes are just as prone (if not MORE prone) to this injury as the rest of us.

One recent instance happened during the 2012 Olympics, which just ended a couple of weeks ago. Lindsey Berg, the US Olympic volleyball captain suffered an ankle injury that took her out of the game. Though at the time of her ankle pop, "The three-time Olympian said she didn’t think the injury was serious." (Source) that doesn't mean that the injury won't require surgery.

This is very common for an ankle sprain resulting in subluxing peroneals. More often than not, if you haven't ever experienced the sensation of your tendons popping over your bone, you will have no idea what it is, and you will assume that it will heal on its own. Here is what Dr. Silverman from Silverman Ankle and Foot suspects of Lindsey's ankle injury:

"What most likely has happened is a peroneal tendon subluxation. Peroneal tendons stabilize the outside of the ankle. When the ligament that holds them in place becomes damaged, they can pop out from behind the ankle, causing pain and inflammation. People can play in the short term through peroneal tendon instability, but if left untreated it results in peroneal tendon tearing."

Brendan Mundorf, a Lacrosse player for the Denver Outlaws appears to be suffering the from the same ailment. During practice on Friday he twisted his ankle, and is now facing surgery. The way he describes his injury screams out to me that he definitely has subluxing peroneals. Here is how Mundorf describes it:

"Some tendons came off on my ankle on the bone," Mundorf said in his first comments detailing the injury, which occurred when he was hit with a stick on the outside of the ankle Friday. "Something holds them down, and that tore." (Source)

I want to wish both of these athletes the best of luck on their ankle recoveries! I hope that they will be back to playing the sports that they love as soon as they possibly can!