Treatment of ankle joint instability

Author(s): ANDRZEJ MIODUSZEWSKI, MIKOŁAJ WRÓBEL, MICHAŁ SZYSZKA, PAWEŁ ADAMCZYK, AGNIESZKA SZCZYGIEŁ

Talocrural joint distorsions are one of the most frequent injuries of the locomotoric system in general population. Most often they appear among sportsmen of various disciplines. Knowledge about functional anatomy, biomechanics and mechanisms of the injury is often incomplete. Various therapeutic methods are in use, not always with good results. Secondary chronic complaints and joint instability either mechanical or funcional may develop. Proper conservative treatment is effective in a number of cases. Physiotherapy aimed at regaining of muscular control and compactness of the affected ligaments, as well as restoration of proprioception, is of major importance. In some cases surgical treatment is neccessary in order to regain mechanical support. Contemporary opinions on epidemiology, pathomechanism, and therapeutic methods used in treatment of this injury are presented in the paper.