Ankle Instability
Ankle Instability
Ankle sprains are one of the most common sporting injuries. Usually your injury will recover with suitable rest and physiotherapy, and this should always been the first line treatment. Ankle instability occurs when your ankle repeatedly gives way during daily activities or sporting activities. This can lead to recurrent ankle sprains, joint pain, swelling, inflammation and can further damage the ligaments and cartilage around the ankle.
Non-Operative Management
The first line of treatment for your ankle sprain is rest, ice, compression, elevation and the use of oral analgesics. Physiotherapy is the first line treatment in order to regain range of motion, strength, balance and also proprioception (the sense of where the joint is). An ankle brace may be needed. Finally, if at 8 weeks your pain is still an issue, injection therapy may be used such as a corticosteroid injection. Dr Rao will often recommend a platelet rich plasma injection to help decrease your pain and swelling, and allow you to resume physiotherapy.
Further non-operative management involves obtaining an MRI scan to look at the damage within your ankle. This will be organised by Dr Rao as well.
Meet Dr Rao
Dr Rao is a Newcastle Orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in all aspects of foot and ankle surgery. He graduated from medicine at the University of Sydney and trained as an orthopaedic surgeon in Newcastle and also in Queensland.
He also undertook further training by way of fellowship with world famous Dr Terry Saxby in Brisbane in 2008. He has also conducted further training by attending numerous courses overseas, in Thailand, the USA and right across Australia.
