How do triathletes and tennis players work on the ankle flexibility?
Former Member
While I keep working on increasing my ankle flexibility, I recently read in an article that ankle flexibility comes at the cost of ankle instability (= higher propensity for ankle sprain), which spells trouble for runners and tennis players.
Tennis being my other favorite sport, this puts me in a dilemma.
Are there master swimmers out there who also maintain competitiveness in tennis or running, or is this a "you can't have a cake and eat it too" situation?
I am hoping that I can become competitive in swimming with ankles that are stable (read rigid in swimming) enough for tennis as well.
Parents
Former Member
I had no problems with my ankles when I took up running during college swimming. At that point I had been swimming for about 10 years so I'm guessing my ankles were at their most flexible. My ankle problems started showing up a few years later when I had quit swimming.
That being said, I think that swimming increases flexibility but also some strength and stability. If you think about it, every push off the wall uses the ankles and feet. Between the walls, flexibility is important. At the walls it is strength and stability.
My incoherent thoughts this morning before having any :coffee: .
I had no problems with my ankles when I took up running during college swimming. At that point I had been swimming for about 10 years so I'm guessing my ankles were at their most flexible. My ankle problems started showing up a few years later when I had quit swimming.
That being said, I think that swimming increases flexibility but also some strength and stability. If you think about it, every push off the wall uses the ankles and feet. Between the walls, flexibility is important. At the walls it is strength and stability.
My incoherent thoughts this morning before having any :coffee: .
