Ankle Instability / Sprain

Foot and Ankle Specialist in Midtown Manhattan, New York, NY

Ankle Instability / Sprain

ANKLE INSTABILITY:

Ankle instability occurs after you have suffered multiple ankle sprains. Even one bad ankle sprain will cause instability if not healed properly. When you suffer a twisting injury or you “roll your ankle” the ligaments can over stretch and sometimes tear. This can occur while you engage in many different sports and even if you step off the curb wrong. Make sure you seek a foot and ankle specialist like Dr. Perez, a dual board-certified Podiatrist / Foot and Ankle specialist. She has extensive expertise in treating foot and ankle conditions. If you’re suffering from ankle pain and instability, call her office or book your appointment online today.

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ANKLE LIGAMENTS

There are 3 bones that make up your ankle joint – Fibula, Tibia and Talus.

There are ligaments on the inside and outside of your ankle that stabilize these 3 bones.

Outside Ankle ligaments:

Anterior Talofibular
Posterior Talofibular
Calcaneofibular

Inside Ankle ligaments:

Deltoid ligament (made up of 4-5 different bands)

Ankle Instability / Sprain Q&A

An ankle sprain occurs after a twisting injury or “rolling of your ankle”. A sprain is when the ligaments stretch and even over stretch to not let you fall. It may hurt on the inside or outside of the ankle depending on how you injured it. Your ankle may be swollen and develop bruising.

Sometimes there is too much force and the ligaments will tear or even break the bone. It is important to apply RICE (rest, ice, compress, elevate) immediately after a sprain and seek treatment from a foot and ankle specialist like Dr. Perez at Flex Foot and Ankle PLLC. Most likely you will require a brace or even a CAM boot to stabilize your ankle.

If you have suffered an ankle sprain, Dr. Perez has extensive knowledge and experience on treating ankle instability in adults AND children.

If you have suffered multiple sprains, or even one bad sprain which did not heal properly and you continue to experience pain or swelling after activity then then you might be suffering from ankle instability.

How would you answer these questions?

Have you been “babying” your ankle?
Do you feel unstable when walking on uneven surface?
Do you have pain walking down the steps?
Do you feel like your ankle is going to give out on you?
Do you avoid certain activities / movements because of your ankle?

If you have answered yes, then you have ankle instability. After a bad sprain, if the ligaments did not heal appropriately or they healed in a stretched out position then they are not functioning properly to stabilize your ankle during walking or exercising.

At Flex Foot and Ankle PLLC, Dr. Perez will examine you and obtain xrays to make sure you ave not suffered a fracture. If this is a chronic injury, you will most likely need advanced imaging to assess to your ligaments. Chronic ankle instability can be treated conservatively, with physical therapy, bracing, taping and injections. To read more click here

If your ankle is still unstable after conservative treatment, Dr. Perez would recommend surgery. The surgery will recreate your ligaments and stabilize you ankle. It is an outpatient procedure and the surgery takes about 35 minutes. Dr. Perez first performs ankle arthroscopy (to clean out your joint) and then place anchors into the fibula and talus recreating the ligament with the internal brace.

Dr. Perez will describe the procedure in detail but you can read more about the surgery here internal brace.

Make sure you follow Dr. Perez on IG (https://www.instagram.com/flexfootankle) and read her blogs – monthly on different foot and ankle topics!

You can also read more about ankle instability at: