Has any adult-onset swimmer succeeded in increasing ankle flexibility?
Former Member
My ankle inflexibility seems to be a huge drag to my freestyle and backstroke. In my attempts to increase ankle flexibility, I have employed a couple of methods suggested elsewhere in this forum - (1) assuming the "child's tv-watching" position, with my lower legs folded beneath my buttocks and (2) using fins.
However, after three months, I don't seem to have gained any more flexibility in the ankle joints. Have other adult-onset swimmers been able to gain ankle flexibility through these methods or otherwise?
New Daddy, I'm one to easily turn an ankle almost every time I play basketball. Inevitably, I end up taking a step on either ankle at some point, but usually I can press onward as if nothing happened. About 6mo ago, had a particularly painful one, and since have been stretching my ankles out in the morning by lying on my back, pulling my leg to my chest, and making circles - 20 wax on, 20 wax off; repeat other leg. I think it has helped some.
Another stretch I did right after the painful ankle turn was making my ABCs with my foot. That is something that AT's tell people to do with strains and sprains. That works your ankle flexibility in pretty much every imaginable direction. Just like writing, its going to be very funky with your "off" foot.
New Daddy, I'm one to easily turn an ankle almost every time I play basketball. Inevitably, I end up taking a step on either ankle at some point, but usually I can press onward as if nothing happened. About 6mo ago, had a particularly painful one, and since have been stretching my ankles out in the morning by lying on my back, pulling my leg to my chest, and making circles - 20 wax on, 20 wax off; repeat other leg. I think it has helped some.
Another stretch I did right after the painful ankle turn was making my ABCs with my foot. That is something that AT's tell people to do with strains and sprains. That works your ankle flexibility in pretty much every imaginable direction. Just like writing, its going to be very funky with your "off" foot.
