Why do I keep spraining my ankles?

Why do I keep spraining my ankles?

The ankle is a very unique area, because it is very small in comparison to the weight it holds. Think about it. Look at your ankle and then think about how much you weigh. This area is holding most of that weight!

It’s also a finicky area because it allows for several types of motions, but we only use about 2 of them, which is plantar flexion and dorsiflexion (this is when the foot moves up and down like we are walking forwards). However, the ankle allows for SIX motions! Those motions are plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, inversion, eversion, clockwise rotation, and counter-clockwise rotation.

Anywhere in the body where a joint allows for a lot of motion, it is more prone to dysfunction, because we do not typically use all of the motions on a consistent basis. In the body, if we don’t use it, we lose it.

Since, we only use 2 out of the six normal motions of the ankle, the other 4 neglected motions cause the joint to become WEAK, making it easy to keep spraining your ankles over and over again.

So, now it makes a little bit more sense of why we keep on spraining our ankles repetitively. So what needs to be done?

Well the most important thing that needs to be done is to get adjusted. Your ankles carry most of your body weight. Can you imagine what that would do to your knees, hips, and low back if you were walking improperly with ankles that are not aligned properly?

It is definitely going to take a toll on your body, because it will cause improper biomechanics for the rest of your joints. Plus, if you can get this area aligned up again, it will make it less likely to sprain your ankle again since the bones are sitting properly. This will also take pressure off of the ligaments that are meant to hold the bones in place, and allow them to recover.

Once, the joint’s alignment is properly taken care of, then it is time to do some stretching and strengthening. If you have any questions or concerns about how to do these properly, please contact our office, so we can get your ankle strong and supportive again!