A folded ankle is one of the most common injuries in skateboarding. I’ve probably had about 50 myself. I would always stretch out my ankles by standing on the side of my foot. I figured this would make me more limber and less likely to get sprains, some of which would put me out of commission for 2-3 months. A few years ago I talked to a physical therapist and found out I was 100% wrong.
Stretching your ankles is about the worst thing you can do if you want to avoid a folded ankle. The fact of the matter is that if your ankle bends too far, you’re going to get a sprain. Stretching your ankle out makes it easier to bend, and therefore easier to sprain.
I really hadn’t understood how much I had been stretching my ankles, but when I started thinking about it I realized I did it all the time. So I stopped doing it, and guess what? I haven’t had a folded ankle in two years. In fact, there are time I should have folded my ankle, but it didn’t fold. Yes, these ankles don’t fall, they stand tall. That rhymes, and you know it rhymes.
So stop stretching your ankles, and trust me, they’ll thank you.
That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard in a long time! When I was 15 I sprained my ankle learning handrails, and the doctor told me to stretch my ankles for therapy! I’ve also been doing that forever and I’m 31 now! Guess I’ll stop!
It’s good to have flexibility and strength in your ankles for any sport really but stretching doesn’t really help that… try doing exercises such as spelling out the alphabet with each of your feet (daily, it takes like 5 minutes just do it before bed or something), walking on your toes in shoes for a few minutes, then walk on your heels in shoes for a few minutes… these are all rehabilitation exercises I’ve done in the past for ankle injuries. I still do the alphabet thing, the walking one not so much.
ive had the worst luck in the world with my ankle canstantly hurting it everytime i skateboard again and am trying everything to heal it again and if i sprain it one more time ill get surgery because im sick of not skating….i think swimming helps alot as i can feel my ankles (injured one and strong one) burning after the exercise, i also constantly stretch my ankle and do the alpphabet thing. i strongly suggest swimming
iv,e sprained my ankle 3 times now skateboarding, all in the space of two years. i was thinking of just becoming a filmer for my friends but that wont be as much fun. aparently ive always had a week ankle even before i first sprained it. whats your opinion?
I used to sprain my ankles 10 times each year. Three times in two years is nothing. I say get some ankle braces, read up on some therapy for strengthening your ankles, and keep skating.
I sprained my ankle a few times, last april was the worst one, I took me out for the summer. I’m waiting for the doctor to aproove before I skate again. My only advise: stop sessionning when you’re tired.
Ya, best thing to do is the strengthen your ankle doing rehabilitation methods and not to skate tired. I’ve sprained my ankles 5-6 times this year. And every time was because i was continuing to skate while exhausted, nobody wants burnout.
This has only been my first year of skaetboarding and I’ve already sprained my ankle 3 times. It always happens when i mess up my ollies. It would be great if anyone could like provide information on how to strengthen my ankles so this doesn’t keep happening
I started long boarding when I turned 40. And, I have weak ankles. I have folder over my right ankle about three times in life. All times required a few months downtime from running and high impact sports. Skateboarding is a high impact sport. I normally feel no pain riding, but a few hours later my ankles get swollen and feel tight. I try not to ride when I am tired, and I do a lot of ankle strengthening exercises.
Here are some exercises, I have found to strengthen the ankle. Surgery is an option, but a good surgeon will tell you strengthening the ankle is just as good.
http://physicaltherapy.about.com/od/orthopedicsandpt/ss/anklerehab.htm
I am sick of spraining my ankle i am 13 am love to skate but in 1 year i sprained my ankle twice all i do is ollie and droping in plz tell me if there is something other then surgery and alfabet writting i am going to do that but not sure if i will work
Hey if u dont wana sprain your ankles try learning how to bail, 1 dont bitch out on sets thats the worst way to sprain your ankle just go for it and try jumping off your bed with your ankles bent and bend them so you land flat footed that will help. sorry i will follow up on this comment anouther time but im gonna go skate>
Hi guys i am 13 year old and i have sprained my ankle about a year ago(it was june,july or may i think 2009)and i don’t skate until now(hoppefully in a month or two.When i ijured back day I stopped skating for only 5 DAYS!!! I WAS THE STUPIEST GUY OF THE WORLD !!!!I don’t know what to say about not sprain your ankle BUT the only thing i have to say is that if you are injured in your knees or ankles YOU HAVE TO WAIT!PLZZZZZZZ DON’T DON’T DON’T DON’T DON’T DON’T DON’T DON’T DON’T DON’T DON’T DON’T DON’T DON’T DON’T DON’T NEVER SKATE UNTIL YOUR FOOT IS COMPLETELY HEALED!!!!!!!!!!DON’T BE STUPID LIKE I WAS!don’t say ”what happened fuck off i am fine i am going to skate”
i am telling that because i know what means to watch your friends skateboarding and you sitting in the curbs(i was so jealous). i want to protect and i am against to the ankle sprain !!!
I HOPE THE BEST FOR ALL OF US BECAUSE WE DESERVE TO BE FREE AND SKATEBOARDING FOR LIFE!!!!!
i stop this post because i started to get a little crazy dave from Greece
Best regards,bye!
I must have super weak ankles, in the 3 months i have been skating i have sprained my ankle over 3 times, and it seems to heal up within 2-4days. My ankles are doing my fucking head in. everytime i bail instead of falling i try to recover which in turn causing me to fold/sprain my ankle. Im sitting here now after the 4th time, i acutally think i’ve broke my ankle this time.
Thanks, Maxii.
Folded ankles sure are a pain! – Especially when the sprain is bad, it’s definitely in your best interest to get started with a rehab program right away – even if you’re only a skater and think “hey, I don’t play sports..” – It’s seriously that important.
This is too funny. Obviously like most who have read this post, I recently sprained my ankle skating. I used to do the same thing with my ankles (stand on side of foot) mine was more of a time killing habit like waiting for a spot to be open to try a trick I would just roll onto both ankles and kind of bounce a touch thinking I was stretching the muscles.
Now I am stuck on my couch trying everything I can to heal a grade 2 possible high sprain as fast as possible, not so much to skate again, just so that I can walk on it. I hate being dependant on people and losing mobility. I think I am done with skating, have been doing it for years and this really dropped my desire to get back on since I did pretty bad damage trying a simple nose grind on a bench only 1.5 feet high. Not a big drop.
But Forrest is 100% right. For the first few months of skating I really condition myself to scope out a spot, look at the possible line of attack and then look at my bail points, most tricks have 3 I find, just before take off you can jump off the board, second option is right after the ollie you can thrust the board away from you (do this with caution as it can bounce back in your face, or done improper you might land on the board with 1 foot), and the last option is landing on the board, leaning forward and tucking in your body and rolling, this will prevent a face plant, ankle rolls and kinks to the knee or hips. But best advice possible, only do a trick if you really feel like it’s possible. I see too many 12 year olds trying 360 flips over 7 stairs for hours with no proper form. Rule of thumb: If you cannot do it on flat land, you cannot do it over a gap or a set.
I was stupid this time, got cocky and landed on the side of my foot because of nudging the board too late trying to pop out of the nose grind and not being prepared for a bail.
This topic has some great feedback advice, too bad people wont read it until after an injury.
i absolutely 100% hate ankle injuries. and right now i feel like there is nothing i can do to stop ankle sprains from happening, cuz lately everytime i step on my board i roll or sprain my ankle again, and it sends me right back to the couch on ice. in 4 or 5 years of skating i have sprained my left ankle about 4 to 5 times. now my right ankle is falling victim to sprains so ive decided i will just take an extended absence from skating cuz theres nothing id rather do right now than skate to my fullest and the only possible solution is to just stay off of my feet. i will do all the ankle exercises known to man just so i can get back on my board and hope that i wont sprain my ankle again haha, cuz i just hate sitting on my ass watching day after beautiful day go by and all i can do is think about skating again, so please if anybody knows the best way of preventing ankle sprains from happening….you gotta let me know!!!
I fractured my ankle twice this winter playing ball then last week try to kickflip a gap and the same ankle slipped off the nose and folded and now when i walk theirs a pain on the inside of my foot so im hoping i will skate again, ankle injuries are the worst and i feel sorry for anyone who has to go through it even worse during the summer when you cant skate