[grizwald]

You guys are absolutely right. You refs really know your stuff.

I hear you guys, and I'm aware of some the differences. Alot of the higher risk related stuff is related to the women having wider hips than men. And the larger angle that the legs must be at. It creates problems and higher risk (more stress) in all joints, ligaments and tendons in the legs. Girls after puberty having a much greater risk of leg and foot injuries than boys.

I don't know much about the slower healing, but I'm not doubting that you are accurate there as well.

However, perhaps I mischaracterized the problems she's having. She's had a few, maybe 3 or 4 slight sprains (first degree). Causing minor swelling and no gross instablity. Over a period of probably 3 years. None were closer than probably 6 months apart. And she plays alot of games. She probably averages between 2 and 4 games a week year round plus practices.

Believe me, having the student training background, I would not hesitate to send her to the doctor if I felt like her issues where chronic or could become chronic without treatment. And we will make a trip to the doctor to ask about shoes, braces, insoles ect... soon.

She just turned her ankle in a game Friday and they have AAU Nationals coming up next week. Although she is showing no effects of the sprain currently. I was looking at something as a preventative messure.

I am a bit concerned over the issue of giving extra support to the ankle, creating greater risk to the knee. So I'm not exactly sure what she'll end up doing.

I am a bit comforted by the fact that in the professional basketball and football world (as well as other sports), all athletes' ankles are taped no matter what issues they've had with there ankles in the past. In fact, when I was a student trainer, the team doctors told us that it is standard language in an NFL contract that a fine is imposed if a player even sets foot on a playing surface (even in street clothes) without his ankles taped.

As a side note, we visited the Indiana Pacers training room before a game at the end of the '91 season. Dave Craig, the Pacers trainer, invited us down. Those guys (professional sports trainers) are amazing. They could tape ankles without ever tearing the tape after they were finished with a strip. With all the different strips you put on an ankle taping and never have to tear the tape, Wow. And never once accidently creased the tape either. I guess that's why they make the big bucks!

But your advise is sound, and taken to heart. Girls anatomy is different and in itself causes issues not seen with boys and men. We'll go see the doctor soon.