Fountain City Roller Derby Recruitment: Ankle Strengthening

by Lone Rager

Pictures by Freddie CruelGirl

Ankles. If you want to play roller derby, chances are good you’ve got a pair. Chances are also pretty good they aren’t as strong as you would want them to be before taking to the life on wheels and smashing into people. I know that’s a lesson I learned the hard way. Probably 90% (made-up, meaningless statistic) of my derby friends have complained about pain relating to their ankles as well. So, let’s try to lower that number, shall we?

If you hit up Google, there’s a ton of exercises and articles you can read to achieve status of World’s Strongest Ankles. And you totally should check ‘em out. Everyone is different, and the ones I post here are the ones I like to do, but may not be your favorite. If it makes your ankles a little bit stronger, I guess I can let it slide.

To work on balance and stability with them ankles, try standing on one foot for 30 seconds. Then switch. And as you start to achieve Super One Leg Stander status, make it 45 seconds. Then 1 minute. Do it while you’re watching TV, doing dishes, or putting on your face in the morning. Just do it.

Feeling like you’ve conquered that balancing trick? Okay, then start raising up on your toes and then back down. Do 10, and then maybe do some more. Do them on both legs together, or do them on separate legs. Think you’ve got this? Try it with your toes on the stairs so that you can extend your heels down even further. Bonus? This makes your calves look amazing. YOU’RE WELCOME.

Another super simple one? Write the alphabet with your toes while sitting on the couch. Mind blown? I know. But it works.