Ankle Stiffness & Why it’s so important

A strong foundation is the first step in building, the same is true for any athlete. Correct alignment allows for the proper recruitment of muscles, tissues, and tendons. Full recruitment leads to improved performance while reducing the likelihood of injury. Faulty movement patterns can be avoided by focusing on alignment, grooving that movement pattern, then building strength in the pattern.

We move by pushing off the ground, so it’s safe to assume the stronger push we give, the further or faster we will go. This is where ankle stiffness comes into play. Take a look at the image below to get a better understanding of how a strong (stiff) ankle acts upon ground contact as opposed to a weaker ankle that collapses. Which one of these would you rather push off of?

Even if you’re not an olympic track athlete, ankle alignment plays a major role in your life. From standing to walking, jogging to running, if you’re not properly lined up, there are adverse health effects.

In short, collapsed ankles can lead to a wide variety of issues. Some will collapse their knee, putting pressure on the joint, eventually causing a hip to become improperly aligned. This may lead to “tight hips” by altering the muscles around the joint due to the misalignment. Then we start getting into the issue of back pain due to a misaligned lower half and hips.

Just like a house, a shaky foundation will lead to some pretty serious problems.

Everyone is built a little differently, and there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution, but we have provided some tools for you on our app for free to help you get a better understanding of your alignment and to help improve your posture.

Download our app in the app store to get started, and feel free to message us with any questions!