Do You Have Weak Ankles?

At Goldsmith Podiatry, we know sometimes our Manhattan patients have podiatric symptoms that are not uncomfortable, and over time, they just become used to them. Weak ankles are a condition that can fall into this category. Do your ankles often feel achy and sore? Does your ankle frequently turn when you’re walking on even slightly irregular surfaces, or do you have the sensation that it’s going to “give way?” Have you noticed any ongoing tenderness or swelling? If so, you may have chronic ankle instability or weak ankles, which is not a condition to be ignored.

Back to the Beginning

The root cause of weak ankles is usually an ankle sprain or sprains in the past. When you suffer an ankle-twisting injury, the ligaments surrounding your ankle get overly stretched and, in severe sprains, even torn. It takes a significant amount of rest and rehabilitation to heal an ankle sprain fully. Too often, patients quit therapy once the pain subsides and resume their regular activities. Unfortunately, it doesn't mean the sprain healed even after the discomfort is gone. It’s essential to complete the full course of physical therapy prescribed by the podiatrist to strengthen the surrounding muscles that ultimately support the ligaments. Otherwise, the ligaments are at risk of quickly overstretching again. A downward cycle of repeated sprains makes the ankles weaker and additional sprains more likely.

Breaking the Cycle

If this sounds all too familiar, you should schedule an appointment at our Upper West Side office by calling (212) 877-1002 so that our podiatrist, Dr. Howard Goldsmith and Dr. Rosanna Troia can examine your ankle for tender areas, signs of swelling, and instability. The foot doctor will also most likely order x-rays or other imaging studies to confirm the diagnosis.

Once the full extent of the damage is known, the podiatrist can prescribe the appropriate treatment to strengthen your ankles. It may involve a bracing, physical therapy and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to repair the ligaments.

If you’re suffering from an ankle issue, contact us today.