Thousands of people across the nation are prone to injury by nature. From lack of coordination to underlying medical issues, some are just more likely to end up in the emergency room or temporarily immobilized in a recliner than others. While a long line of potential injuries fall into this category, ankle rolling could be considered one of the most common.
What is Ankle Rolling?
Almost everyone experiences this at some point, but some aren’t able to give it a specific name. It’s that magical moment when you take a seemingly typical step only to have your foot roll right out from under you. As a result, your ankle meets the ground. In most cases, the rest of the body follows within a split second even though it may appear to happen in slow motion. While an isolated incident of this nature should eventually heal on its own, recurrences may warrant podiatric foot care in Racine WI.
How Does This Type of Injury Happen?
Ankle rolling happens for a number of reasons. Sometimes, it’s nothing more than a lack of stable ground or unfortunate foot placement. Other instances can be signs of significant underlying issues, though.
- Step-Related Situations:
- For some people, the foot lands flat on the ground with each step just as it should. Those who aren’t quite so fortunate may experience greater-than-normal pronation or supination, terms referring to an inward and outward roll of the foot respectively. Over time, this can place enormous stress on the muscles, ligaments and tendons of the ankles and feet, leading to weakness and increasing the risk of a roll.
- Lack of Exercise:
- Physical activity is notorious for weakening muscles and joints, and the ankle is no exception. Inadequate exercise can easily lead to repeated ankle rolls as well as the potential problems accompanying them.
- Being Overweight:
- Carrying extra weight makes people more vulnerable to ankle rolls because it places greater loads on these joints.
- Gender:
- Some studies show women over the age of 30 are more likely to experience this type of injury than men, so preventative Podiatric Foot Care in Racine WI could be beneficial.
Regardless of cause, ankle rolling can lead to serious issues, including sprains, torn ligaments and broken bones to name a few. Hidden conditions are often the culprits. Great Lakes Foot & Ankle Centers can help prevent these types of injuries and aid in the recovery process when they do occur.
