ABSTRACT
Ankle sprains are one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries, being the most frequent musculoskeletal trauma among athletes.Most of these injuries are successfully treated conservatively; however, up to 70% of patients can develop long-lasting symptoms. Therefore, understanding prognostic factors for an ankle sprain could help clinicians identify patients with poor prognosis and choose the right treatment.A suggested approach will be presented in order to positively identify the factors that should warrant a more aggressive attitude in the initial conservative treatment.There are some prognostic factors linked to a better recovery and outcome; nevertheless, prognostic factors for full recovery after initial ankle sprain are not consistent. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2020;5:334-338. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.5.200019.