How to Avoid Chronic Instability After an Ankle Sprain

Imagine you’re walking down a McKinney sidewalk on a beautiful spring day. The sun is shining, and there’s a light breeze. You feel great and are enjoying the buds on the trees when suddenly your heel dips into a crevice and you twist your ankle. 

You hobble back to your car, grit your teeth through your pain, and drive home to elevate and ice your now-swollen ankle. Ankle sprains are a common injury, but one misstep doesn’t need to leave you with a lifetime of permanent damage. 

There are three categories of ankle sprains, from mild to a complete ligament tear. No matter what category your injury fits into, it can lead to chronic instability after your sprain heals if it’s not treated properly. Such instability can keep you from your favorite activities because your ankle can hurt or feel weak even years after your sprain. 

At Sports City USA Foot & Ankle Center, serving Frisco, McKinney, Prosper, and Celina, Texas, Dr. Benjamin Clair ensures your sprained ankle is cared for.

What is ankle instability? 

Imagine you feel like your ankle keeps giving way after your sprain heals. This throws off your gait and balance. Plus, if you keep turning your ankle or it feels weak, you’re at risk for another sprain. 

Ankle instability is due to ligament damage, which relates to the severity of your ankle sprain. Ligaments are connective tissue that keep your ankle flexible and stable, and if they don’t heal properly, you can find yourself at greater risk for future sprains.

Chronic ankle instability can mean: 

• Ankle pain 
• Reduced range of motion 
• Weakness 
• Bruising 
• An unstable feeling 

How to prevent chronic ankle instability 

Once sprained, your ankle is at risk of a repeat sprain. That’s because your ankle’s structure is weakened. It’s important to heal your ankle under your doctor’s care so you heal properly and rebuild your ankle’s strength. For example, physical therapy can strengthen the muscles around your ankle joint and improve your balance. Wearing an ankle brace may help too.

If your ankle joint still seems unstable after physical therapy, surgery could be a good option. Sometimes, your ligaments aren’t tight enough, contributing to your ankle’s instability. During surgery, we can shorten and tighten your ankle ligaments.

Your ankle is a precise balance of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. An ankle sprain pulls those ligaments and upsets the balance. 

Dr. Clair at Sports City USA Foot & Ankle Center in McKinney, Texas, specializes in foot care. Schedule your consultation with Dr. Clair. You can call our office or request an appointment online to start your ankle healing journey today.