Unstable ankles put you at risk for additional pain from new or worsening injuries. If you experience ankle instability, Katherine Parodi, DPM, Jacob Stuart, DPM, and the rest of the team at Pinnacle Foot and Ankle Clinic in Westminster, Colorado, provide individualized care that improves your symptoms while strengthening your ankle joint. To schedule an appointment, call Pinnacle Foot and Ankle Clinic or book an appointment online today.
Ankle instability is an issue that can come with various ankle injuries. With ankle instability, your ankle joints often collapse or give out when you’re standing or walking. This leaves you at a greater risk of falls and additional ankle injuries, which can lead to increased or long-term ankle pain.
A few more specific symptoms of ankle instability are:
Ankle instability is common in athletes who have had ankle injuries in the past, but you can develop ankle instability after injuries of other kinds too. Not everyone who injures their ankle gets instability, but it can pose major issues in your day-to-day life.
Ankle instability can be a lasting result of various ankle injuries if they don’t heal well or you don’t treat them. Even if you did treat an old ankle injury, you might develop instability if you don’t adequately rehabilitate your ankle with physical therapy and gentle exercise.
Sprains of the ankle are the most common cause of ankle injury that leads to instability. A sprain happens when one or more of the ligaments within your ankle stretch beyond their capacity or tear, often when you twist or roll your ankle.
Your outlook after an ankle sprain depends on the severity of the sprain, how you care for the injury, your age, and other factors. If you experience instability, the team at Pinnacle Foot and Ankle Clinic can treat it as its own issue.
Fortunately, there are a number of treatment modalities that can address and improve ankle instability. The team examines your ankle before creating an individualized treatment plan to stabilize and strengthen your ankle. A few options are:
Physical therapy involves various exercises meant to strengthen your ankle, improve your balance, and increase your range of motion.
An ankle brace stabilizes the joint and allows it to continue the healing process of the injured ligaments.
Medications can relieve any inflammation in your ankle while reducing any pain and discomfort that comes with the instability.
Rarely, ankle instability requires surgery for further repairs.
To schedule your podiatric evaluation and treatment consultation for ankle instability, call Pinnacle Foot and Ankle Clinic or book online today.