Effective Treatment for Ankle Sprains That Keep Coming Back

Repeated ankle sprains can be a sign of ligament damage, poor balance, weakness, or an underlying structural problem with the ankle joint. This article explains why recurring ankle sprains happen and where to find the best ankle surgeon in Los Angeles for effective treatment for chronic ankle instability.

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You rolled your ankle months ago, rested it, and eventually felt normal again. Then it happened again, perhaps while running, playing sports, or simply stepping onto an uneven surface. If this sounds familiar, the problem may not be that you are unusually accident-prone. Repeated ankle sprains can be a sign that the original injury never fully healed, or that you have damaged your ankle more seriously than you originally thought. In fact, research shows that a previous ankle sprain significantly increases the risk of another, especially if a podiatrist doesn't evaluate you for potential injuries.

Continue reading to learn how the best ankle surgeon in Los Angeles treats chronic ankle instability and recurrent ankle sprains with modern, minimally invasive treatments.

Why Do I Keep Spraining My Ankle?

Recurring ankle sprains can happen when the ligaments are stretched or torn during the original injury and do not fully heal. Weakness, impaired balance, reduced joint awareness, and returning to demanding activities too soon can all worsen the problem and lead to a repeat sprain.

How Do Repeat Ankle Sprains Happen?

The outside of the ankle contains several ligaments that help prevent excessive motion. A typical lateral ankle sprain occurs when the foot rolls inward, and these ligaments are injured. Even after swelling and pain improve, the ankle may remain mechanically or functionally unstable.

Peripheral nerves also play a role because, after an ankle injury, your ability to sense the ankle's position and react quickly to changes in terrain can be affected. This is called proprioception. If that response is impaired, the ankle may be more vulnerable the next time you land awkwardly. Other factors that can cause repeat ankle sprains include:

Incomplete rehabilitation after the first sprain
Weakness in the ankle and lower-leg muscles
Limited ankle motion
Poor balance or neuromuscular control
Repeated high-impact activity
Ligament laxity
Foot or hindfoot alignment problems
An untreated fracture, cartilage injury, or tendon problem

How to Tell If You Have Chronic Ankle Instability

Chronic ankle instability feels like your ankle repeatedly gives out, feels unreliable, or continues to swell or hurt after an ankle sprain has supposedly healed. If you have chronic ankle instability, you may notice that:

Your ankle rolls with activities that previously felt easy.
You avoid uneven ground because you do not trust the ankle.
The ankle feels loose or wobbly.
Swelling or soreness returns after exercise.
You have experienced several sprains on the same side.
You have difficulty balancing on the injured leg.
Your performance has declined because you are protecting the ankle.

How is Chronic Ankle Instability Diagnosed?

There are many conditions that can make the ankle joint and surrounding connective tissues weak. Getting an accurate diagnosis starts with a detailed history and physical examination from the best ankle surgeon in Los Angeles. As a foot and ankle specialist, a surgeon can assess ligament stability, range of motion, strength, balance, walking mechanics, and the location of tenderness. Imaging may be appropriate when the examination suggests a fracture, cartilage injury, tendon problem, or significant ligament damage.

Condition	Typical concern	Why evaluation matters
Ankle sprain	Ligament injury	Determines severity and stability
Ankle fracture	Broken bone	May require immobilization or surgery
Chronic instability	Repeated giving way	May require targeted rehabilitation or stabilization
Ankle arthritis	Joint cartilage degeneration	Requires a different treatment strategy
Tendon injury	Damaged supporting tendon	Can mimic or accompany a sprain

Can Recurrent Ankle Sprains Be Treated Without Surgery?

Many patients with recurrent ankle sprains can improve without surgery, especially when the best podiatrist in Los Angeles is guiding treatment. Some nonsurgical treatment plans can include:

Temporary bracing or taping during higher-risk activities
Activity modification while the ankle heals
Progressive strengthening
Balance and proprioception exercises
Restoration of ankle range of motion
Sport-specific movement training
Gradual return to running, jumping, or cutting
Physical therapy
Regenerative therapies, like platelet-rich plasma

When Does a Recurrent Ankle Sprain Need Surgery?

Surgery may be necessary when an ankle remains unstable despite appropriate nonsurgical treatment or when significant structural damage makes nonsurgical care unlikely to be successful. This depends on factors like:

How often the ankle gives way
The condition of the ankle ligaments
Your activity and athletic demands
Associated cartilage, tendon, or bone injuries
Foot and hindfoot alignment
Your response to rehabilitation
Your overall health and treatment goals

Surgical treatment can involve anatomic repair of the damaged lateral ligaments or ligament reconstruction when the existing tissue cannot provide sufficient stability. In some patients, ankle arthroscopy can also treat problems inside the joint with minimally invasive techniques.

How Long Does It Take to Recover From Ankle Instability Treatment?

Recovery depends on whether the ankle needs rehabilitation alone or surgical stabilization, as well as the injury's severity and your activity goals.

With nonsurgical treatment, improvement may occur over several weeks to months as strength, balance, and movement control return. Returning to sports should be based on function rather than a calendar date. You should be able to demonstrate appropriate strength, balance, and sport-specific control before returning to high-demand activity.
After surgical stabilization, recovery is more structured. Early healing may require protection of the repair, followed by progressive weight-bearing, range-of-motion work, strengthening, and sport-specific rehabilitation. Returning to sports can take several months.

Finding the Best Ankle Surgeon in Los Angeles for Ankle Instability

A recurring ankle sprain requires more than another round of ice, rest, and hoping it settles down. This is why we look at the stability of the ligaments, strength and balance of the ankle, alignment, and any associated joint or tendon problems to determine why the injury keeps returning and what level of treatment is appropriate.

As the best ankle surgeon in Los Angeles, Dr. David J. Soomekh is a board-certified foot and ankle specialist and surgeon, a Diplomate of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. His training includes complex foot and ankle surgery at Stanford University, the VA in Palo Alto, and California Pacific Medical Center, and his practice includes sports injuries, ankle arthroscopy, and reconstructive foot and ankle surgery. As the attending foot and ankle physician for the Los Angeles Ballet, he also brings extensive experience caring for patients whose ankle function matters to their work, performance, and daily lives.

If recurrent sprains keep you from trusting your ankle, the team at Foot & Ankle Specialty Group can evaluate the underlying problem and build a treatment plan to restore stability and get you back to the activities you value.

Ready to get effective treatment for recurring ankle sprains from the best podiatrist in Los Angeles?

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