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Why Ankle Strength Is Key For Balance Control

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The Ankles Role In Balance and Stability

There's a lot more to balance and stability than meets the eye. The ankles play a big role in keeping us upright and keeping our movements fluid. The bones of the ankles support the entire weight of the body and provide a base for movement. The muscles and tendons around the ankles work together to keep the body upright and stable.

 

Most people think of balance as being able to stand on one foot with their eyes closed. However, balance is much more than that. Balance is the ability to control your body’s center of gravity over its base of support.

 

There are two types of balance: static and dynamic. Static balance is when you are not moving, such as when you are standing still on one foot. Dynamic balance is when you are moving, such as when you are walking or running.

 

The ankles are constantly at work to keep us balanced. Whenever we take a step, our ankle muscles and tendons adjust to keep us from falling over. This is why it’s so important to keep your ankles strong and healthy. Dynamic balance, or the ability to control body movement in response to external forces, is essential for daily activities such as walking and climbing stairs. There are many factors that can contribute to poor balance, including muscle weakness, joint stiffness, vestibular dysfunction, and visual impairments.

 

Good balance helps prevent falls and injuries, and can also improve your functional ability. For example, if you have good balance, you will be able to walk faster and farther without getting tired.

The Major Bones Of The Ankle

Your ankles are integral to your movement and support your entire body weight. Without strong and healthy ankles, you would be unable to walk, run, or even stand. The bones of your ankles provide a base for all of your movement.

 

There are three main bones in each ankle: the tibia, the fibula, and the talus. The tibia is the larger of the two bones in the lower leg and it articulates with the fibula to form the ankle joint. The talus sits atop the tibia and fibula and provides a surface for the bones of the foot to articulate with.

 

The bones of your ankles are held together by ligaments and muscles. The ligaments provide stability while the muscles allow for movement. The tendons attach muscles to bone and also help with movement.

What Happens To Balance
When The Ankle(s) Are Injured

The ankles play an important role in balance and stability. Proper ankle function is essential for normal balance performance and preventing falls.

 

Treatment for ankle injuries depends on the type and severity of the injury. Most sprains and strains can be treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE). More severe injuries may require surgery or other forms of treatment.

 

If you're a runner, chances are you've experienced some kind of ankle injury. Even if you don't run, though, it's likely that at some point in your life, you've tweaked your ankle—and if not, I bet someone close to you has.

 

Ankle injuries can occur when the ligaments and tendons attached to the bones in your ankle overstretch or tear. There are three main types of ankle injury: sprains, strains, and fractures.

 

A sprain occurs when one or more of the ligaments surrounding the joint become overstretched or torn by an impact or sudden movement. The severity of a sprain depends on how much damage has been done to those ligaments—if they're severely damaged or ruptured (torn), it might take longer for them to heal than if they're only strained or mildly torn.

 

A strain is an injury similar to a sprain where there is damage to a tendon instead of a ligament; this type of injury can happen when the muscle contracts too quickly or too forcefully around a bone and pulls on its attachment site. A strain can affect either your Achilles tendon (the largest tendon at the back of your heel) or any other muscle attached directly to bone.

Importance Of Ankle Rehabilitation For Balance

The ankle is a weight-bearing joint, and it is responsible for absorbing shock and transferring weight from the leg to the foot. When the ankle is not functioning properly, it can cause problems with balance and coordination. If you've injured your ankle, rehabilitation is an important aspect to ensure your balance and lifestyle isn't affected long term. 

 

 

Ankle rehab is one of the most important parts of your recovery from a sprained ankle. In fact, it's so important that you should never skip it! Ankle rehabilitation can help to improve the function of the ankle joint and muscles, which can lead to improved balance and coordination. It can also help to reduce the risk of falls by helping to strengthen the muscles around the ankle joint.

 

A sprained ankle can be a serious injury, and if you don't take it seriously enough to rehabilitate properly, you might end up with long-term problems.

 

You may have heard that all you need to do is rest and ice your ankle for a few days and then it'll heal on its own. While this is true for most sprains, there are some cases where it won't be enough—even if your ankle isn't swollen or painful anymore.

 

If you've been diagnosed with an unstable ankle sprain or if your doctor tells you that your ankle isn't healing properly after several weeks of rest and ice, then it's time to get professional help, Base Camp Health is here to help guide you through an effective rehabilitation process.

Why Strength And Range Of Motion Helps Balance

Strength and range of motion are key factors in balancing, which is why it's important to have a healthy amount of both.

 

When you're balancing, your muscles are working hard to hold you in place and keep you upright. The stronger your muscles are, the more they can do this job—and the less likely it is that you'll tip over or fall down.

 

Range of motion also matters when you're balancing. If your muscles are tight and stiff, they won't be able to move as much as needed for balance. This can cause falls and other mobility problems. A regular stretching routine helps keep your muscles limber so they can do their job.

How To Improve Ankle Stability

If you're looking to improve ankle stability, there are a few things you can do. First, focus on exercises that target the muscles around the ankle. This will help to build up strength and prevent injury. Secondly, balance training is key. by working on your balance, you'll be less likely to roll your ankle when walking or running. Finally, make sure to stretch regularly. This will help to keep the muscles around your ankle loose and prevent cramping.

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If you're looking to have a specific rehabilitation and strengthening plan created and tailored to your lifestyle, Base Camp Health is here to help. Our goal is to help you live your best life by ensuring you feel balanced and stable in your body.  Schedule an appointment now to get back to your best self!

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