Do you feel like your ankles have a mind of their own? Maybe you're just walking across a flat parking lot or stepping off a curb when your foot suddenly rolls inward. That familiar snap or pop followed by swelling isn't just a streak of bad luck.
At Lone Peak Foot & Ankle Clinic in Draper and Orem, Utah, we see many patients who feel like they're stuck in a loop of constant injury. When you keep rolling your ankle, it's often because the initial injury never truly healed.
Dr. Greg Brockbank and our team specialize in helping you break this cycle so you can walk, run, and play without fear of the next tweak.
Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a condition where the outside of your ankle continually gives way. It's incredibly common but often ignored. Up to 70% of people who suffer an acute ankle sprain develop residual physical disability or lasting instability.
That happens because your ligaments aren't like rubber bands; they don't always snap back to their original size. When stretched or torn, they can remain loose. This mechanical looseness makes it physically easier for the joint to shift out of place.
If you don't address it, you're at a much higher risk for early-onset arthritis and permanent joint damage.
Your brain plays a huge role in why you keep rolling your ankles. Your ligaments contain tiny sensors that tell your brain where your foot is in space. That’s called proprioception. Ankle sprains damage these sensors, severing the communication line between your foot and brain.
If you step on an uneven surface, a healthy ankle sends a danger signal to the brain, which tells your muscles to fire and stabilize the joint. With CAI, that signal is delayed or missing. By the time your brain realizes the ankle is rolling, it's already too late.
The International Ankle Consortium notes that these injuries are a major public health burden because they lead to decreased activity and long-term joint degeneration.
The good news is you aren't stuck with weak ankles forever. We employ a multistep approach to treat ankle sprains and prevent recurrence. That includes functional rehabilitation, which uses specific exercises to rewire the brain-body connection and sharpen your balance.
We also look at the kinetic chain. Believe it or not, weakness in your hips or core can cause your foot to land at a dangerous angle. By strengthening these areas and using supportive bracing when you're active, we can reduce your risk of reinjury significantly.
Dr. Brockbank uses advanced diagnostics to ensure there aren't hidden fractures or tears that need surgical attention.
You don't have to live with the constant fear of your next fall. Taking care of your ankles now is the best way to stay mobile for years to come. Contact our office today to schedule an evaluation and start your path toward a more stable future.
