Weak ankles can stem from past trauma to the ankle area, but sometimes, they are an innate issue present from birth. Those with weak ankles typically experience discomfort and may find their ankles collapsing quite easily during actions such as standing, navigating on foot, or engaging in various physical exertions.
Healing from an ankle injury can span from a few weeks to several months, with the affected ankle frequently remaining weaker and less structurally sound than its counterpart. A specialist in foot and ankle surgery is qualified to evaluate the stability of an ankle and might also request diagnostic imaging to check for additional injury.
The usual methods for managing weak ankles include physical therapy and using ankle braces for support. Depending on how severe the instability is and the effectiveness of non-operative treatments, surgery might be considered as an option.
For more information, refer to topics on Chronic Ankle Instability and Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD).
