Your ankles play an important role in standing, walking, running, and getting you through your day. If you are experiencing chronic ankle instability, you may be fearful of moving around. Decreased mobility can affect your quality of life. Fortunately, chronic ankle instability can be treated by your podiatrist. Dr. Michael Cherella and Dr. Kyle Shaw at Mullica Hill Foot and Ankle offer a wide range of foot and ankle services, including the diagnosis and treatment of ankle instability. They have several convenient office locations in Mullica Hill, NJ, Upper Darby, Philadelphia, and Philadelphia, PA.

What You Need To Know About Chronic Ankle Instability

When you have chronic ankle instability, it means that instead of supporting you, your ankles are rolling when you try to support your weight and move. Chronic ankle instability is caused by the ligaments surrounding your ankle bones becoming weak. Weak ligaments are often due to repeated ankle sprains which don’t heal completely. Repeated ankle sprains cause the ligaments to stretch and weaken over time. Other potential causes of ankle instability include:

• Inflammation or arthritis of your ankle joint
• Fracture of one of the bones in your ankle joint
• Scar tissue which develops after a sprained ankle
• Inflammation of a tendon or a torn tendon
• Injury to the nerves passing through your ankle

Chronic ankle instability has several identifiable signs and symptoms, including:

• Tenderness or pain around your ankle
• Swelling around your ankle
• Your ankle rolling on the outer side
• Your ankle feels unstable when you walk

If you are experiencing chronic ankle instability, it’s important to visit your podiatrist. Untreated ankle instability can lead to falling and serious injury. Your podiatrist will thoroughly examine your ankle and foot and may recommend imaging studies to check for structural issues in your ankle. To treat chronic ankle instability, your podiatrist may recommend:

• Prescription anti-inflammatory medications to reduce pain and swelling
• Physical therapy to strengthen your ligaments and restore your range of motion
• Steroid medications to decrease swelling and pain
• Ankle braces or casts to support or immobilize your ankle

In severe cases that don’t respond to non-surgical treatments, surgery may be indicated to repair or reconstruct stretched, weakened, or damaged ligaments.

Want To Know More About Chronic Ankle Instability?

To learn more about chronic ankle instability and how your foot and ankle specialist can help, call Dr. Michael Cherella and Dr. Kyle Shaw at Mullica Hill Foot and Ankle. You can reach them in any of their several convenient offices in Mullica Hill, NJ, Upper Darby, Philadelphia, and Philadelphia, PA, by calling (856) 223-9939 to reach the Mullica Hill, NJ, office, (610) 449-2345 for Upper Darby, PA, (215) 563-9478 for Philadelphia, PA, and (215) 462-2610 for Philadelphia, PA.