Chronic ankle instability can occur following an inversion ankle sprain usually potentially causing damage to ligaments. If the ankle isn’t rehabilitated appropriately following ligament damage then the ankle is susceptible to recurrent sprains, especially for athletes in high impact sports requiring rapid jumping, landing and change of direction movements.
Patient’s report the ankle feeling as if it will ‘give way’ even with innocuous movements such as walking, especially on uneven surfaces or stepping up and down steps. Instability can also be associated with pain in the front and outside of the ankle.
Wearing a brace or taping your ankle/s for sport is very important to help reduce the risk of further sprains, however, this doesn’t completely mitigate the risk.
To assist with re-injury prevention, participating in a structured ankle strengthening program involving both balance, proprioception and plyometrics, is very important to assist with maximising athletic performance and the ability to perform daily tasks. This will minimise the risk of more severe ankle injuries including further ligament damage and fractures.
