College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) Practice Exam

In a case of acute inversion ankle sprain, which ligament is most likely to be injured?

1. Long plantar

2. Tibionavicular

3. Tibiocalcaneal

4. Calcaneofibular

The correct answer is: Calcaneofibular

In the case of an acute inversion ankle sprain, the ligament most commonly injured is the calcaneofibular ligament. This is due to the mechanism of an inversion injury, where the foot rolls inward, placing excessive stress on the lateral aspect of the ankle. The calcaneofibular ligament is located on the outer side of the ankle and provides support to the joint during movements that would lead to inversion. When the foot rolls inward excessively, it often causes tears or strains in this ligament, leading to pain, swelling, and instability around the ankle. Other ligaments listed, such as the long plantar and tibionavicular ligaments, do not typically get injured with this type of injury, as they are positioned on the medial side or related to functions that do not involve inversion stress. The tibiocalcaneal ligament, part of the deltoid ligament complex on the medial side, is also not usually affected during an inversion sprain because these injuries predominantly impact the lateral structures of the ankle.