Almost everyone has heard of total hip replacement and total knee replacement. But fewer people are familiar with total ankle replacement (also called total ankle arthroplasty). Although the ankle looks like a simple hinge joint, it actually involves much more complex movement, absorbing forces up to five times body weight. Many conditions, such as severe […]
A sprained ankle is a very common injury, with approximately 25,000 people—athletes and non-athletes, children and adults—experiencing it each day. An ankle sprain affects the ligaments , tough elastic bands of tissue on the outside of the ankle that connect the ankle bones to each other and protect the ankle joint from abnormal movements, such […]
Understanding Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI) Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is more than just a sore ankle. It’s an uncomfortable condition in which the outer (lateral) side of your ankle feels like it might “give way” when you walk, move or even stand. If, in fact, it does “give way” with a turn or sprain, the […]
Most of us are familiar with knee and hip replacements, but did you know you can also have an ankle replacement? Also known as total ankle arthroplasty, this surgical procedure involves replacing the ankle joint with an implant. Performed by orthopedic and foot and ankle surgeons, this has become a more commonly accepted practice than […]
While knee and hip replacements have become more common, orthopedists are now performing an increasing number of ankle replacements as well. Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) treats ankle arthritis that may result from the normal wear and tear of aging, or from an injury such as a dislocation or a broken ankle—arthritis that can eventually lead […]
Functional Ankle Instability: When Your Ankle Feels Unstable Do you sometimes feel like your ankle is rolling inward when you walk? If so, you might have functional ankle instability (FAI)—a condition where your ankle feels unstable, even though the joint itself is stable. This differs from pure ankle instability, which has a mechanical cause, such […]
Ankle sprains are the most common sports-related injury, so athletes and coaches have a high degree of interest in preventing them. In addition, almost three-quarters of athletes with ankle sprains reinjure their ankle. Multiple recurring sprains can lead to chronic ankle instability and end an athletic career. If you are an athlete, should you wear […]
Medial Ankle Sprains: A Pain in the Ankle Ankle sprains are one of the most common orthopedic injuries. In fact, more than 20,000 ankle sprains occur each day in the United States. While most people think of sprains on the outer side of the ankle, medial ankle sprains—affecting the inner side—are less common but can […]
You may have sprained your ankle several times during the past year and often feel a sensation of weakness, as though you are in danger of spraining it again. When you have had one sprain, other sprains may follow, indicating the presence of a condition called chronic ankle instability. Is there a way to make […]