Ankle Instability
How We Can Help You for Ankle Instability
Our doctors have the expertise and experience needed to diagnose and treat your ankle instability to help you return to your normal activities as quickly and safely as possible.
First, we focus on precisely diagnosing the instability’s cause, which could be a fracture, ligament tear, arthritis, or other condition.
With a confirmed diagnosis, we deliver world-class care to help relieve symptoms, which may include buckling of your ankle, balance problems, repeated ankle strains, and increased risk of falling. Our team offers the complete range of treatment options but always emphasizes the least invasive approach possible. Treatment may consist of bracing, physical therapy, or medication. When needed, we perform surgical procedures ranging from the routine to the most complex in the world.
Our orthopaedic surgeons work closely with other specialists such as sports medicine doctors, physical therapists, and other highly trained professionals. As a team, they develop a complete care plan personalized to your condition and unique needs.
In addition, Stanford Health Care patients with ankle instability may have opportunities to join research studies of new treatment approaches not yet available anywhere else.
What We Offer You for an Ankle Fracture
- Specialized expertise from one of the world’s leading programs focused on diagnosing and treating ankle instability and all other orthopaedic conditions.
- Team-based treatment planning that brings together highly experienced specialists who create a comprehensive care plan personalized to your unique needs.
- Advanced treatment options, always emphasizing the least invasive approaches possible but also providing state-of-the-art surgery whenever needed.
- Full support that includes care planning and follow-up as well as strategies to prevent instability from reoccurring.
- Clinical trial opportunities to join research studies of new innovations in the diagnosis and treatment of ankle instability.
- Ease of access with highly trained specialists conveniently located close to where you work or live.
Treatment for Ankle Instability
Ankle instability is a wobbly ankle that might give way beneath you. It usually results from loose or stretched ligaments (bands of connective tissue that hold your ankle joint together).
An ankle injury, like a rolled ankle or ankle sprain, can cause ankle instability. It’s common in some athletes, like ballet dancers, who have looser-than-average ligaments.
Ankle instability needs expert assessment. Our experts find the cause of ankle instability and recommend a personalized treatment plan.
Stanford’s orthopaedic specialists evaluate ligament damage and deliver precise, personalized treatment.
Nonsurgical Treatment
Surgery
Your doctor may suggest nonsurgical care, such as:
Anti-inflammatory medication
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen can reduce swelling and pain.
Bracing
Supportive tape or a brace can prevent your ankle from twisting or rolling.
Physical therapy
Our specialized physical therapists teach you special exercises to strengthen your leg and ankle to reduce the risk of further injury.
Immobilization
If you have a fracture, a cast or splint holds your foot and ankle in place while you heal.
Our doctors may recommend surgery if strengthening exercises and conservative care don’t help improve your ankle stability. Your surgeon may use traditional open surgery or ankle arthroscopy, a minimally invasive approach. Arthroscopy uses several tiny incisions and a scope, a narrow tube with a light and camera on it. Your recovery may be faster and you may have less pain after arthroscopy.
Stanford’s orthopaedic surgeons repair ankle instability with:
- Broström procedure: Your surgeon repairs stretched or torn ligaments so that they heal in a shortened position and tighten your ankle’s internal support. The surgery is also called lateral ankle ligament reconstruction. If your ligaments are too damaged, your surgeon can use a piece of tendon from a donor (allograft).
- Peroneal substitution ligament reconstruction: Your surgeon uses a piece of the peroneal tendon, a tendon from another part of your ankle, to replace the damaged ligament. Your surgeon attaches the tendon to your anklebones and weaves the tendon around your ankle to support your ankle joint.
- Repeat surgery: A few people need surgery to repair an ankle that has had previous surgery to tighten ligaments. Stanford’s orthopaedic experts assess and treat recurring ankle instability. Surgeons may re-repair your ankle with replacement tendon.
What to Expect
Most people fully recover from ankle stabilization surgery. People usually get back to sports or other activities within three months. Starting six weeks after surgery, physical therapists help you regain your strength and range of motion.
Your doctor may suggest nonsurgical care, such as:
Anti-inflammatory medication
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen can reduce swelling and pain.
Bracing
Supportive tape or a brace can prevent your ankle from twisting or rolling.
Physical therapy
Our specialized physical therapists teach you special exercises to strengthen your leg and ankle to reduce the risk of further injury.
Immobilization
If you have a fracture, a cast or splint holds your foot and ankle in place while you heal.
close Nonsurgical Treatment
Our doctors may recommend surgery if strengthening exercises and conservative care don’t help improve your ankle stability. Your surgeon may use traditional open surgery or ankle arthroscopy, a minimally invasive approach. Arthroscopy uses several tiny incisions and a scope, a narrow tube with a light and camera on it. Your recovery may be faster and you may have less pain after arthroscopy.
Stanford’s orthopaedic surgeons repair ankle instability with:
- Broström procedure: Your surgeon repairs stretched or torn ligaments so that they heal in a shortened position and tighten your ankle’s internal support. The surgery is also called lateral ankle ligament reconstruction. If your ligaments are too damaged, your surgeon can use a piece of tendon from a donor (allograft).
- Peroneal substitution ligament reconstruction: Your surgeon uses a piece of the peroneal tendon, a tendon from another part of your ankle, to replace the damaged ligament. Your surgeon attaches the tendon to your anklebones and weaves the tendon around your ankle to support your ankle joint.
- Repeat surgery: A few people need surgery to repair an ankle that has had previous surgery to tighten ligaments. Stanford’s orthopaedic experts assess and treat recurring ankle instability. Surgeons may re-repair your ankle with replacement tendon.
What to Expect
Most people fully recover from ankle stabilization surgery. People usually get back to sports or other activities within three months. Starting six weeks after surgery, physical therapists help you regain your strength and range of motion.
close Surgery
INTERESTED IN AN ONLINE SECOND OPINION?
The Stanford Medicine Online Second Opinion program offers you easy access to our world-class doctors. It’s all done remotely and you don’t have to visit our hospital or one of our clinics for this service. You don’t even need to leave home!
Visit our online second opinion page to learn more.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may be eligible to participate in open clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies that are currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but similar studies may open in the future.
What Is Ankle Instability?
Our Clinics
Stanford’s orthopaedic and sports medicine specialists evaluate ligament damage that leads to chronic ankle instability. Our surgeons perform minimally invasive surgery to tighten ankle ligaments and relieve instability, and physical therapists can help you strengthen and improve balance.
450 Broadway Street
450 Broadway StreetRedwood City, CA 94063
Phone: 650-723-5643 Getting Here »
To schedule an appointment, please call: 650-723-5643
Ankle Instability
With minimally invasive surgery and physical therapy, our orthopaedic experts help you regain strength and balance to overcome chronic ankle instability.
Ankle instability
Chronic ankle instability
sprained ankle
rolled ankle
twisted ankle