They typically occur when someone lands on an opponent’s foot or uneven ground, causing the ankle to roll inward.
If you're lucky enough to avoid a fracture, you’ll still likely overstretch the ligaments on the outside of the ankle.
In most cases, pain and swelling settle with rest and basic care, and a return to sport is possible within a few weeks.
But for about 20-40 per cent of people, symptoms including pain, swelling, and repeat sprains linger well beyond the initial injury.
This is known as chronic ankle instability.
What causes chronic instability?
Traditionally, this was blamed on stretched or damaged ligaments, called mechanical instability. In such cases, where the ligaments no longer provide proper support, surgery was often seen as the only solution.
However, we now know there’s more to it.
Most chronic ankle instability also involves functional instability, where the muscles that support the ankle aren’t doing their job properly.
When you sprain an ankle, not only are ligaments affected, but so are the nerves and sensory receptors that tell your brain where your foot is.
Add to that the muscle weakness from resting the injury, and the result is poor coordination and control.
A simple test: try standing on one leg with your eyes closed.
If your ankle feels significantly wobblier on one side, functional instability could be the issue.
The good news: rehab works
The best part? Functional instability is highly treatable without surgery.
A good physiotherapy program focusing on strength, balance, and proprioception (your sense of joint position) can restore control and reduce your risk of future sprains.
With just a few weeks of targeted rehab, many people can return to full activity.
Unfortunately, too many athletes skip this crucial step in their recovery, missing the chance to properly heal and prevent re-injury.
Ankle sprains may be common, but with the right approach, they don’t need to become a long-term issue.
Pat Arnold is a director and sports physiotherapist at Echuca Moama Physiotherapy. Appointments with Pat and his colleagues can be made by phoning 5480 0860 or book online at echucamoamaphysio.com.au
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