Patient Information Resources


Centre for Orthopaedics
Suite 10-33/34/35 Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre
38 Irrawaddy Road
Singapore, 329563, Singapore
Ph: (65) 6684 5828
Fax: (65) 6684 5829
sharon@cfo.com.sg






Ankle
Child Orthopedics
Elbow
Foot
Fractures
General
Hand
Hip
Knee
Pain Management
Shoulder
Spine - Cervical
Spine - General
Spine - Lumbar
Spine - Thoracic
Wrist

View Web RX

« Back

I just noticed yesterday when I was playing Simon Says with my five-year-old that I can no longer stand on my left leg without falling over. I did have surgery on that side two years ago for a badly sprained ankle. But I went through physical therapy and everything seemed fine back then. Is this normal? Should I be worried?

What you are describing might be something referred to as functional instability. More formal testing would be needed to know for sure -- and to advise you what to do. Functional instability just means the ankle holds up for you during daily activities. It doesn't give out when standing, walking, or otherwise challenged (e.g., on hills or uneven surfaces). But when you try to balance on it, there are some obvious deficits that show up. One of the problems may be a lack of normal proprioception. This refers to the joint's sense of its own position. Receptors in the joint that signal the brain where the joint is and when a shift in position occurs aren't firing properly. The signals may be absent, delayed, or too weak to allow the joint to stay stable under stress or challenge. One thing you can try is to stand on the other (uninjred) leg and see if this is a general balance problem or just specific to the post-surgical side. In either case, some remedial work is advised to prevent future injuries or reinjuries. Your physical therapist is the best one to re-evaluate you and set up a plan for functional rehabilitation. The therapist has the advantage of reviewing your discharge notes to see what the status of your balance was at that time and compare it to now. This may help you understand what happened, what is going on now, and what to do about it. You are fortunate that a simple children's game brought this to your attention now. Simon says: you can do something about it!

References:

« Back





*Disclaimer:*The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.


All content provided by eORTHOPOD® is a registered trademark of Mosaic Medical Group, L.L.C.. Content is the sole property of Mosaic Medical Group, LLC and used herein by permission.