There are two main types of injuries that we see in our clinic. There are the acute injuries that involve significant trauma and injury, like a fractured ankle from a car accident or fall off a ladder, and there are chronic injuries that develop over time or simply won’t fully go away. Most people know when they are dealing with an acute injury and take appropriate medical steps, but a lot of people don’t know what to do if they’ve been bothered by a smaller, chronic injury for some time.
One of the most common types of chronic injuries that we see in our office is the chronic ankle sprain. But why do they keep rolling their ankles, and what can be done to put the problem to rest? We explain in today’s blog.
Keep Spraining My Ankle
If you suffer from repeated rolled ankles, you’re probably looking for some information as to why this keeps happening. You’re in luck, because we know exactly why you’re suffering from chronic ankle sprains, and best of all, we know how to treat the issue.
The vast majority of the time, chronic ankle sprains are caused by weakened ankle ligaments. You have ligaments on the outside and inside of your ankle, and they help to provide stability and support as you move. However, if you suffer a fracture or significant ankle sprain, these ankle ligaments will be damaged. Sometimes they fully heal, but many times they are slightly affected by the trauma even after healing has taken place. That means they no longer can provide the best support for your ankle, putting you at risk for another sprain, and the cycle continues.
We always use the straw example to help visualize this problem. If you have a straw and place it standing up on a table, you can put some downward force on the top of the straw and it retains its shape. However, if you bend the straw and then again stand it straight up and put downward pressure on it, it takes a lot less force for the straw to give out and bend at the location where you previously bent it. In other words, the damage from the first bend means it’s unable to provide as much support when pressure is exerted on it. That’s exactly what’s happening with your ankle ligaments after a severe sprain. The ligaments are damaged, and unless they fully heal, you’re always going to be at a higher risk for another sprain. This is why you’re always rolling your ankles, because you have ankle ligament instability.
The good news is Dr. Silverman has years of expertise treating this condition. He can set you up with a conservative care plan to help use physical therapy and other non-surgical methods to restrengthen your ankle ligaments. Many people experience good results with this type of care, but for more serious cases, Dr. Silverman also offers a minimally invasive procedure that surgically strengthens the ligaments, often leaving them stronger than they were in the first place. Learn more about that procedure by watching this short video.
So if you keep rolling your ankle, it’s unlikely to stop unless you treat the problem head on. Contact Dr. Silverman’s office to get set up on the pathway to recovery today.
