Working With Your Podiatrist

Keep Rolling Your Ankle? See A Specialist

26 May 2021

Lillian Kelley

Most people roll their ankles at least once or twice in their life. It's not unheard of to take a bad step or to slip sideways on a rock or piece of concrete. But what if you seem to be rolling your ankle repeatedly? It may seem like you can hardly go a week without taking a bad step and injuring yourself. In cases like this, there may be something more sinister causing you to roll your ankle. It's a good idea to see a foot and ankle specialist and figure out what's going on.

What will the specialist do?

When you see an ankle specialist, they will likely start by asking you questions, such as the following:

• How often would you say you roll your ankle?
• Is it just one ankle or both?
• Are you on flat ground when this happens, or are you typically tripping on something?
• Have you ever had any serious ankle injuries in the past?
• Have you noticed any other symptoms, such as trouble with balance or a lack of coordination?

Additionally, the specialist will probably order some images of your ankle. X-rays are a given, and depending on how you answer the questions above, you may also be sent for an MRI to give the doctor a closer look at the soft tissues in your ankle, like ligaments and tendons.

What conditions may be diagnosed?

Based on what they see and what you tell them, your ankle specialist should be able to at least theorize as to why you keep rolling your ankle. The following are some conditions they may either diagnose or want to look into further:

Loose Ligaments

If you have loose ligaments on one side of your ankle, this may cause you to lack support, which allows your ankle to roll to one side as you step. This can be addressed with physical therapy and sometimes by having you wear a brace or splint on the affected ankle.

Neurological Conditions

Rolling your ankle and generally losing coordination can be early signs of a neurological condition, such as multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy, or a brain tumor. If your ankle specialist thinks this might be the case, they'll refer you to a neurologist.

Lack of Muscle Strength

If the muscles in your calf or foot are weak, this could contribute to your frequent ankle rolling. Physical therapy is usually the solution in this case.

If you keep on rolling your ankle, don't ignore this problem. Talk to an ankle specialist and figure out what's underlying your frequent injuries.

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