FOOT AND ANKLE MISHAPS COMMON ON THE GRIDIRON.

• Position: FOOTBALL INJURIES

Football is one of the most popular sports in the U.S., but the high speed and impact can put players at risk for foot and ankle injuries. Here are three common types:

* Lateral ankle sprain. It typically is caused by "rolling the ankle" inward and tearing the outer ligaments. The player instantly will experience pain, tenderness, and swelling on the outside of the ankle.

Lateral ankle injuries are graded on a scale from 1 to 3. Grade 1 is a mild sprain where the player might miss a few plays and then go back on the field without issues. With a Grade 2 sprain, the player likely will come out for part or most of the game, and the ankle will be taped or braced for extra support. Grade 3 is a complete ligament disruption that results in a cast or boot for seven to 10 days, followed by supervised rehabilitation.

"Athletes may be able to return to play two to four weeks after a Grade 3 sprain, but about 15% will develop chronic instability that might need surgical reconstruction," says Chris Co-etzee, M.D., from Twin Cities Orthopedics, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.

* High ankle sprain. A syndesmotic injury, commonly referred to as a "high ankle sprain," occurs when high impact or rotational stress is placed on the ligaments of the ankle/lower leg that connect the tibia to the fibula. The player will feel the pain just above the level of the ankle...