Why does my ankle keep giving out?

An ankle that gives way repeatedly is telling you the first injury never fully finished healing. The usual story: a sprain stretched or tore the ligaments on the outside of the ankle, the swelling went down, life resumed - but ligaments that heal loose no longer hold the joint snugly, and the small muscles that react to a wobble were never retrained. MedlinePlus notes a sprain can take a few weeks to many months to heal completely, and clinicians call the leftover pattern chronic ankle instability. Each roll makes the next one more likely, so the goal is to break the cycle rather than tape over it. What works: balance and strength rehab - single-leg stands, wobble-board work, resistance-band exercises for the muscles that run down the outside of the lower leg - ideally from a physiotherapist, and many areas let you self-refer to musculoskeletal services without a GP letter. Support the ankle in risky settings with a brace or supportive shoes while you rebuild. If you are mid-sprain right now, the NHS PRICE routine applies for the first 2 to 3 days: protection, rest, ice for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours, compression, elevation. See a GP or physio if the ankle keeps giving way despite rehab - persistent instability occasionally needs imaging or surgical repair. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, that can help you plan the comeback.