OVERVIEW
The ankle joint is hinge joint that is made up of three bones: the tibia, fibula and talus. The joint is held together by a complex network of ligaments on the outer side (lateral collateral ankle ligaments), inner side (medial collateral or deltoid ligaments), and in the back of the ankle (posterior ankle ligaments). Over stretching of the ankle ligaments can damage important proprioceptors that tell your body where your foot is in space. If the ankle ligaments become too stretched they lose their ability to hold the joint together when walking, running, dancing, or playing sports.
CAUSE
Ankle instability can be divided into functional instability or anatomic instability. A functional instability happens when the ankle feels unstable, but on examination and testing, the ankle is stable. A functional ankle instability can be caused by sinus tarsi syndrome, ankle arthritis, ankle impingement or a chip in the ankle’s cartilage. A true ankle instability is caused by over stretching of the ankle ligaments leaving the ankle feeling floppy.
SYMPTOMS
The hallmark of ankle instability is drumroll an unstable ankle! My clients often have a history of multiple ankle sprains that seem to get worse with each incident. Pain and swelling are commonly reported.
TREATMENT
Since ankle instability can be caused by a few things, it is important to have a thorough work up. Depending on the underlying cause, treatment can include physical therapy, Cortisone injections, supportive bracing or shoes. Surgical intervention is reserved for clients who have exhausted conservative measures and continue to experience instability. X-rays The goal of surgery is restore or reconstruct the ankle ligaments that are not working. This type of surgery typically requires 2-4 weeks of non weight bearing and physical therapy is required post-operatively. Not every case is the same, however. Discover your options with Dr. Collins.
