If you roll your ankle easily or experience ankle pain frequently, you could be suffering from chronic ankle instability. Much bigger issues can arise from not treating chronic ankle stability, so you need to meet with a foot and ankle doctor in Scottsdale, AZ if you think you are dealing with it.
What Causes Chronic Ankle Instability?
When you sprain your ankle or suffer from another foot or ankle injury that didn’t properly heal, it could bring on chronic ankle instability.
Not sure what is considered an ankle sprain? An ankle sprain is when you tear or stain the ligament that is used to stabilize the joint in your ankle. After these ligaments are stretched, they can lead to a weak ankle, causing injury or even arthritis.
Are you an athlete or someone who runs a lot? Then, unfortunately, you are more prone to suffering from chronic ankle instability.
How Do I Know if I Have Chronic Ankle Instability?
Of course, you will need a proper diagnosis so that you can start the right treatment plan.
First, you will want to get an exam by a local podiatrist. They may need to conduct x-rays or an MRI to officially diagnose you with chronic ankle instability.
Once your doctor confirms your diagnosis, there are things you can do to treat it.
Treating Chronic Ankle Instability
There are treatment options that do not require surgery, such as things you can do yourself at home.
If you can catch chronic ankle instability early on, there are a number of exercises you can do to help strengthen your ankle and improve your ankle’s range of motion and balance. Minor cases can also benefit from physical therapy.
For more severe cases, treatment options such as special orthotics, stem cell therapy, or platelet-rich plasma treatments may be needed. Remember, it will take time to retrain your ankle, so be patient!
When it comes to prevention, adding extra support to your ankle like ankle braces while running or working out can prevent you from twisting your ankle easily.
