Ankle Rehab

As someone who has engaged in exercise and athletic activity for most of my life, I’ve put quite a few miles on my feet. I’m sure I’m not alone when saying that decades of pounding and abuse have added up to more than a few ankle injuries. The same mantra I’m given by doctors and physical therapists is ‘make sure you continue to do your exercises.’

However, what normally happens is people give it a day or two, the ankle feels a bit better, so they don’t continue with their rehab. As we grow older, and the ankles don’t recover as quickly as they used to, it’s important to realize now the absolute importance of actually performing those rehab exercises. Chronic discomfort and stiffness in the ankle can certainly be alleviated (nearly eliminated) by following a regular schedule of ankle strengthening activities.

Not only will strength and balance return, but flexibility will also begin to improve. The crux is this: strengthening exercises for the ankle joints are not just for injury recovery. Make the exercise routine listed below a part of a regular schedule — maybe every morning while watching the news, maybe every night before bed, maybe both! The point is to always make sure the ankles are at their strongest, their most balanced, and most flexible. Doing so will prevent most issues that lead to injury.