New England Patriots’ Tight End Rob Gronkowski’s Ankle Sprain

On Sunday, January 22, The New England Patriots defeated in Baltimore Ravens in a memorable AFC Championship Game to earn a trip to the franchise’s 7th Super Bowl Appearance. One play that happened in that game continues to stick out in many football fans’ minds, is when Tight End Rob Gronkowski sprained his left ankle.

Gronkowski was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain, and has been in a protective boot since the injury, and although the Patriots insist he will play, the Tight End has yet to participate in a practice.

“Typically, when an individual rolls their ankle, it’s an inversion sprain, meaning the bottom of the foot rolls inward. Gronkowski suffered an eversion sprain, meaning the bottom of the foot rolled outward. These types of sprains take longer to heal because they involve complex ligaments that hold the tibia and fibula together at the ankle. This type of ankle sprain is harder to stabilize with taping or a brace and takes longer to heal than the more typical inversion sprain,” says CMO’s Dr. Paul Cain, who oversees the practice’s Sports Medicine department.

To learn more about ankle sprains, and the treatment of them, visit the AAOS web page.