Rolling your ankle is frustrating, painful, and can lead to long-term instability. If you find yourself constantly rolling one or both ankles, you might assume it’s due to weak ankles—but your ankles may not be the real problem.
In our latest Ripple Podiatry video, Kate explains why ankle rolling happens and how you can prevent it. Watch the full video here:
👉 Why Do I Keep Rolling My Ankles? Our Podiatrist Explains
Why Do You Keep Rolling Your Ankles?
Your body has built-in safety mechanisms to prevent ankle rolling. When you step onto an uneven surface, your ligaments and nerves should react instantly, engaging stabilising muscles to prevent injury.
If you repeatedly roll your ankles, it’s not just about weakness—it’s about:
✅ Delayed nerve response – Your muscles don’t react quickly enough to stop the roll.
✅ Lack of movement options – Your body isn’t using the right muscles to stabilise.
✅ Poor walking patterns – If your foot rolls inwards or rotates excessively, your stabilising muscles can’t work effectively.
✅ Hyper-mobility – If your joints are more flexible than normal, your stabilising muscles need extra training to prevent instability.
Why Strengthening Alone Won’t Stop Ankle Rolls
Many people assume they need to strengthen their ankles to prevent rolling. While strength is important, it’s not the full solution.
🧠 Ankle stability is a nerve response – If your brain isn’t activating stabilising muscles fast enough, even strong muscles won’t help.
🏋️♂️ Your body needs movement options – If one stabilising muscle doesn’t activate in time, your brain needs to recruit another.
🦵 Big muscles must do the work – Your hips and core play a major role in balance. If they don’t stabilise you first, your ankles take too much strain.
How to Prevent Rolling Your Ankles
✔️ Train your body to react faster – Focus on exercises that improve nerve-to-muscle communication and quick reflexes.
✔️ Improve movement patterns – Ensure you’re walking in a way that allows stabilizing muscles to engage properly.
✔️ Strengthen stabilizing muscles in the right order – Your hips and core must stabilize before your ankles can.
✔️ Increase adaptability – The more movement options your body has, the better it can adjust and prevent injury.
Don’t Just Strengthen—Train Your Body to Stay Stable
If you keep rolling your ankles, it’s time to retrain your body to move safely. At Ripple Podiatry, we look beyond the ankles to find the root cause—helping you move with confidence and avoid repeated injuries.
🎥 Watch our full video for expert insights:
👉 Why Do I Keep Rolling My Ankles? Our Podiatrist Explains
Need help with ankle stability? Book an appointment today, and let’s get you back on steady ground!
