Ankles have been bothering people for a long, long time. There was the Greek hero Achilles, of course, who was undone by an arrow through the ankle courtesy of a Trojan foe. In the second century AD, the philosopher Epictetus wrote of the dangers of athletes twisting their ankles. Worth a mention, too, is the sad case of Albert Einstein who, unbeknownst to most historians, started down the road of professional basketball before an ankle injury diverted him to science.

Okay, so that last example is actually a line from a Gary Larson cartoon. But the point remains: the human ankle has caused plenty of bother over the centuries.

Not much has changed. Anyone who watched the recent Olympic Games in Beijing will remember the dramatic scenes during the men’s 110-metre hurdles, when China’s national hero and gold-medal favourite Liu Xiang made a surprise exit from his first-round heat. The cause? Chronic inflammation of the right Achilles tendon.

Orthopaedic specialist Dr Yung Shing Wai specialises in foot and ankle surgery here in Singapore. We booted some readers’ questions his way to get some feedback on ankle pains and sprains.

I have weak ankles. Are there any sports I should avoid?

A number of sports are a high risk for falling or twisting injuries, including basketball, soccer and rugby. It’s a good idea for people taking part in these sports – especially someone prone to sprains – to wear a semi-rigid brace while playing.

Should I see a doctor if I roll on my ankle?

There is a simple self-treatment procedure – known as the RICE therapy – that helps with ankle injuries. RICE stands for: Rest, Ice, Compression (bandaging) and Elevation. If the ankle is unable to bear weight, or if there is severe swelling, deformity or no improvement after one to two weeks then, yes, a doctor should be consulted. 

When I walk, my ankles occasionally make a clicking sound. The click is painless but can be loud. Is this a problem?

Not if there is no pain associated with the clicks. It’s usually innocuous.

Is jogging bad for my feet?

No, not in properly fitted shoes.

Do many ankle injuries require surgery? Is surgery complicated? How about the recovery period?

Possibly up to five percent of the more severe sprains require surgery. It isn’t complicated but often the patient will need to wear a cast or a walking boot for four to six weeks. Recovery for a full return to sports is usually between six and nine months, but a person can commonly walk after one or two weeks in a walking boot or cast.

If I snap my Achilles tendon, will I ever be able to train or play sport to the same level as before?

Yes, but it will require surgical repair and a recovery period of between six and nine months.

Do you think Singapore’s world-famous Tiger Balm is useful in relieving a sore ankle?

Not really. But many people feel better after rubbing or massaging.

MD Specialist Healthcare is located at 290 Orchard Road, #12-01 Paragon.

Call the 24-hour hotline at (+65) 6887 3737 or visit www.md-sh.com.