Recurrent Ankle Instability is when someone has repeated ankle sprains or constant feeling that the ankle is loose or repeatedly giving way.
Cause
A single ankle sprain can tear an important ligament that is important for the stability of the ankle. This causes a disruption in the stability of the ankle.
Symptoms
People feel their ankle is not secure. It frequently sprains or gives out during sports or even daily activities.
The recurrent sprains can be painful and cause swelling. Sometimes the instability does not cause swelling but is always constant and does not allow a person to feel secure with activities.
Diagnosis
An experienced sports medicine doctor or orthopedic surgeon can often make the diagnosis by physical exam. An x-ray and an MRI are routinely performed to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
Initial conservative treatment is routinely tried first. This includes physical therapy and bracing.
If the ankle continues to be unstable then a minimally invasive stabilization procedure can be performed to repair the torn ligaments or reconstruct them. This is typically very successful.