What To Do for Ankle Instability

Repeated sprains or sprains that don't heal properly can cause your ankle to become unstable. Fortunately, the podiatrists at the Foot and Ankle Clinic in Eau Claire, WI, offer treatments that will improve your stability and avoid new injuries. In addition to Eau Claire, offices are located in Rice Lake, Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, Shell Lake, Baldwin, Stanley, and Cumberland.

Ankle instability strategies and treatments

You're more likely to sprain your ankle again if the joint is unstable, but that's not the only danger of ankle instability. Falls can cause serious injuries, increasing your risk of cuts, broken bones, and even head trauma.

These strategies and treatments can help you manage your condition:

• Wear Supportive Shoes: Shoes or boots that support your ankle can help you avoid twisting your ankle. Flip flops and other shoes that don't offer support or stability should be avoided if you have ankle instability.
  
  
• Orthotics: Do your feet naturally turn in when you walk? Rolling your feet inward can increase your risk of sprains. Your Wisconsin foot doctor may recommend orthotics to support your arches and keep your feet properly aligned in your shoes. The prescription shoe inserts may also improve your balance.
  
  
• Watching Where You Walk: You'll need to pay more attention to the ground or floor in front of you if your ankle is unstable. Even slightly uneven surfaces can cause you to twist your ankle.
  
  
• Tape Your Ankle or Wear a Brace: Braces and tape to support your ankle can prevent it from twisting or collapsing when you walk.
  
  
• Boots, Casts, and Crutches: If your ankle is unstable due to a recent sprain, your doctor may recommend that you use crutches and a boot or cast to relieve pressure on the joint while it heals.
  
  
• Physical Therapy: Your podiatrist may recommend physical therapy if your ankle is unstable. During physical therapy sessions, you'll participate in exercises that stretch and strengthen the muscles in your ankle. Strengthening your muscles improves your ability to support the joint and can reduce your risk of falls. Physical therapy offices are available throughout the Eau Claire, Rice Lake, Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, Shell Lake, Baldwin, Stanley, and Cumberland areas.
  
  
• Surgery: Although ankle instability can often be improved without surgery, a surgical procedure to repair or reconstruct damaged ligaments in your ankle may be necessary if other treatments aren't effective.
  
  

Do you suffer from ankle instability? Call the foot doctors at Foot and Ankle Clinic to schedule an appointment for one of these offices:

(800) 359-4421 - Chippewa Falls, Rice Lake, and Eau Claire, WI

(715) 235-4274 - Menomonie, WI

(715) 468-2711 - Shell Lake, WI

(715) 822-7200 - Cumberland, WI

(800) 359-4421 - Stanley, WI

(800) 359-4421 - Baldwin, WI