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?
Former Member
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.
Blackbeard, thanks for the reply. But I tend to think that turning an ankle when playing basketball is not caused by ankle inflexibility but, rather, by ankle instability. As I understand, ankle flexibility and ankle stability are somewhat at odds with each other.
Former Member
My ankles are extremely inflexible in the direction needed for flutter kick. My flutter kick is horribly slow and doesn't help me at all in freestyle (I am 10 seconds per 100 faster if I swim freestyle with a pull buoy).
I have used Zoomers for at least 15 years; they haven't helped my flexibility one bit. :cry: (They do, however, make me faster and they're great fun.)
On the other hand, my feet naturally rotate outward (like Allen, I "walk like a duck") which means my best stroke is breaststroke.
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I've known how to swim since I was 4, but never swam competitively, and just began masters in 1998. After years of pain, I was finally referred to a podiatrist for my heel spurs (or as some like to call it plantar fasciatiis). She told me that the root of my problem lies in my ankles AND leg muscles not being flexible and putting added stress on my feet. I've never been able to touch my toes from a standing position. So they gave me a brace that I wear a few hours a day, and they gave me instructions for stretching. They also recommend yoga (I found a, "Gentle Yoga," class offered by a local community college that I need to register for). I go back in 2 weeks (ever 6 weeks), so we'll see if anything has helped so far.
