Q: I sprain my ankle all the time. What can I do?

A: There is wisdom to our design. The ligaments on the outside of the ankle are loaded with special nerve endings that help us maintain our balance when walking and running. If these ligaments have been damaged by past injury, you may develop chronic ankle instability. An MRI will help identify the location and extent of damaged ligaments. If the damage is minor, physical therapy and ankle braces may do the trick. If the damage is more severe, surgery may be required to repair, or reconstruct, those ligaments. Surgery will typically be followed by additional physical therapy.