Current reports on foot and ankle injuries of American football players

Background. The purpose of this study was to collect current research lines in Ame­rican football regarding the ankles and the foot. The specific goal was to determine how American football affects the ankle joints and the foot, i.e. the frequency, causes and types of injuries as well as various links between the footwear and failure of these structures. Material and methods. The study included 26 publications, drawn mainly from PubMed and related databases, meeting the search criteria. Results. As a result of the review of the publications, the frequency and types of ankle and foot injuries with regard to lower limbs were discussed along with the conditions predisposing for such injuries. Current works focus primarily on injury surveillance databases and on the research on the impact of footwear on the foot and ankle joint. There are works showing the relationship between ankle and foot injuries on the one hand, and the balance on the other. Additionally, some of the articles deal with the past treatments, the time of exclusion from the game and the use of stiffeners to protect the players against overloads and damage to the above-mentioned structures. Conclusions. Our research draws attention to the problem of foot and ankle injuries and shows that preventive, training and physiotherapeutic programs should still be improved due to their high level of trauma. More clinical study is needed to find the specific causes of injuries and prevent them effectively.