What to Do When Faced With Chronic Ankle Rolling
Chronic ankle rolling can put you at risk for suffering recurring sprains. It can also be harder for you to walk and complete your daily activities. If you are an athlete or someone who works out frequently, then you are more likely to suffer from chronic ankle rolling. Fortunately, there are many ways that you can treat this problem.
Get Physical Therapy
Your doctor may recommend that you get physical therapy. Physical therapy can help strengthen the tendons and muscles in your ankle. Your physical therapist can have you perform a variety of exercises. They can also use various modalities, such as ultrasound, heat, ice and electrical stimulation. Furthermore, your physical therapist can tailor your treatment to match the sports and activities that you do.
Wear the Right Shoes
If your ankles are rolling regularly, you likely have weak ankles. This means that even when your ankles feel healthy, they are missing important muscular structures that help keep them steady. Wearing the right shoes when you walk can help with this. Motion control and arch support found in sports shoes are very useful for those with weak or pronating ankles and help give support while your muscles grow.
Ankle Braces
If your ankle rolling is severe and the ankle itself is still in the process of healing, wearing an ankle brace can give the support you need. These help keep your ankle straight while you walk, which can be uncomfortable, but it is necessary if you want your ankle to heal properly. If your ankle isn’t showing any improvement with a brace, make sure you speak with a doctor to see if more serious measures need to be taken.
Medication
Over-the-counter medications, such as Advil or Tylenol, can help you treat chronic ankle rolling. They can help alleviate pain and inflammation. If you have less inflammation, then it will be easier for you to heal. However, it is important to note that over-the-counter medications are not meant to be used for long periods of time. You can also soak your ankle in Epsom salts to help reduce the swelling and relax tight muscles.
Surgery
If non-surgical treatments are not working, then it is time to talk to your doctor. They may recommend that you get surgery as a last resort. A surgeon can repair the damaged tendons and ligaments. Your activity level and severity of the instability will determine the type of surgery that you need. The recovery time can also vary.
It can be a lot harder for you to complete simple tasks if you suffer from chronic ankle rolling. However, you can treat this condition by getting physical therapy. You can also take an Epsom salt and use an ankle brace. Medication is another thing that can be helpful. If home treatments do not work, then it may be time to get surgery.
