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Lateral Ankle Instability: Rehab and Return to Sport

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Ligamentous Injuries of the Foot and Ankle

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Abstract

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) can develop in a percentage of patients who have suffered recurrent lateral ankle sprains. Patients with CAI typically describe a sensation of the ankle “giving way” although patients may or may not exhibit pathological laxity on exam. Such chronic instability can result from functional or mechanical instability. Diagnosis is established by obtaining a thorough history of symptoms combined with physical exam to assess for laxity and various imaging techniques. The preferred initial treatment includes nonoperative modalities such as pain control, activity restriction, bracing or taping, and functional rehabilitation. Physical therapy focuses on proprioception and balance control to improve functional stability. Patients who fail conservative management are candidates for surgery to improve mechanical stability, of which anatomic surgical approaches such as the modified Broström tend to be preferred as they recreate the ankle’s native biomechanics. This chapter provides a review of chronic lateral ankle instability including anatomy, evaluation, treatment approach, and outcomes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy Education, Upstate Medical University, Rochester, NY, USA

    Christopher Neville & Robert Carrier

  2. Department of Orthopedics, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA

    Erin Haggerty, Jeannie Park & Eric Giza

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  1. Christopher Neville
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  2. Erin Haggerty
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  3. Jeannie Park
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  5. Eric Giza
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Correspondence to Eric Giza .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar

    Pieter D’Hooghe

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA

    Kenneth J. Hunt

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Jeremy J. McCormick

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Neville, C., Haggerty, E., Park, J., Carrier, R., Giza, E. (2022). Lateral Ankle Instability: Rehab and Return to Sport. In: D’Hooghe, P., Hunt, K.J., McCormick, J.J. (eds) Ligamentous Injuries of the Foot and Ankle. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08682-3_12

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