Chronic Ankle Instability
What Is Chronic Ankle Instability?
When you roll or sprain your ankle repeatedly, it can lead to weak and unstable ankles. This can lead to even more rolling, which causes the band of lateral ligaments that stabilises the outside of your ankle to stretch or even tear. If your ankle injury doesn’t fully heal, it can result in even more damage to the ligaments, starting a cycle of chronic ankle instability and recurring ankle sprains.
Chronic ankle instability may not always heal on its own, and consideration of surgery may be necessary.
The Cycle of Chronic Ankle Instability
Ankle sprains occur when your foot suddenly rolls inwardly and your weight shifts onto the outside edge of the ankle. The forced rotation of the ankle joint causes the supporting ligaments to stretch or tear.
Individual ankle sprains can vary in severity from Grade 1, in which you may typically be able to return to sport within weeks through to Grade 3, which may take 3–6 months or longer.1
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Stretched and torn ligaments are weaker and may not heal properly. Unable to play their role supporting the ankle joint, the ligaments give way easily, resulting in more sprains.
The result is chronic ankle instability and an unending cycle of ankle sprains.
Over time, and without treatment, repeated injury to the ankle ligaments can lead to degenerative changes and osteoarthritis.2–4
Osteoarthritis causes your cartilage (the connective tissue that protects the joints between bones) to wear away. It can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and a loss of function, among other symptoms.5
Diagnosing Chronic Ankle Instability
To determine if you have chronic ankle instability, your doctor will usually conduct an exam.
- Questions about your symptoms and injury history. Three or more episodes of instability would generally lead to a diagnosis of chronic ankle instability
- A physical exam to check for ligament overstretching, muscle strength and ankle motion
- A balance test to determine whether ankle instability is affecting your sense of balance
- Imaging such as an MRI to determine whether there are other associated injuries such as damage to the cartilage surface, ankle tendon injury or pre-existing arthritis
