What is Ankle Instability?
Ankle instability is a condition characterized by a recurring "giving way" of the outer side of the ankle. Ankle instability typically develops due to repeated ankle sprains, inadequate healing after an ankle injury, weak ankle muscles and ligaments, nerve damage from previous ankle injuries, or congenital conditions affecting ligament strength. If you're experiencing ankle instability, you may notice a repeated turning of the ankle, especially on uneven surfaces or during sports activities. Other symptoms include persistent discomfort and swelling in the ankle, pain or tenderness, a feeling of wobbliness or instability when walking or standing, and difficulty performing activities that involve ankle movements.
Diagnosis and Treatment Options
Our comprehensive approach to diagnosing ankle instability includes a physical examination to assess your ankle's range of motion, stability, and tenderness. We'll review your medical history, focusing on previous ankle injuries and symptoms. Imaging tests such as X-rays, MRI, or CT scans may be ordered to evaluate the extent of the instability and rule out other conditions. Special stress tests may also be performed to check the integrity of your ankle ligaments.
Treatment for ankle instability depends on the severity of your condition and your lifestyle needs. We offer both non-surgical and surgical options.
Non-surgical treatments include physical therapy to strengthen ankle muscles and improve balance and coordination, bracing to provide stability during activities, medications to reduce pain and inflammation, and lifestyle modifications to prevent further ankle injuries.
Surgical options include ankle ligament reconstruction to repair or reconstruct damaged ligaments, arthroscopy to remove loose fragments or scar tissue in the ankle joint, and tendon transfer to provide additional support to weakened ligaments.
Recovery and Prevention
Recovery from ankle instability treatment varies depending on the chosen method. Non-surgical treatments typically show improvement within 6-12 weeks with consistent adherence to the prescribed program while surgical recovery may take 4-6 months.
To reduce the risk of developing or exacerbating ankle instability, it's important to maintain a healthy weight, wear appropriate footwear for your activities, practice balance and proprioception exercises regularly, warm up properly before physical activities, and be cautious when walking or running on uneven surfaces.