“Doc, my knee popped, it now catches and gives way.” Whether it is the knee, the ankle, the hip, or the shoulder, catching and giving way—especially after hearing a pop—is bad news.

The questions most often asked by athletes, coaches, trainers, and of course fans are, “What can be done to speed healing?” “What can reduce the re-injury rate—and are there permanent solutions?”

To cut, or not to cut? To repair, or to let heal? To rehab without fixing? To live with imperfect parts? Each of these questions is faced every day by surgeons and their patients. Here are a few decisions about incisions.

Here’s a simple suggestion for living a longer, healthier life: Keep your balance.

It’s possible to repair a chronically unstable ankle but it is best to help people avoid ever getting to that unstable stage by making sure that simple torn ligaments are stimulated to heal properly in the first place.