Author Topic: importance of ankle flexibility  (Read 8795 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

hennas87

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 75
  • dayum
  • Respect: +9
    • View Profile
    • my band
    • Email
importance of ankle flexibility
« on: April 23, 2013, 02:26:45 pm »
0
How much of a difference can good ankle flexibility have on vertical jump?

I have really good flexibility when it comes to dorsiflexion but my plantarflexion is a bit crap tbh, I can't even get close to pointing my toes.

I've tried sitting on my feet to try and develop the flexibility but it's not doing a great deal. any particularly good ways to do it? is it worth my time?
boomshakala

LanceSTS

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2255
  • Respect: +550
    • View Profile
    • http://www.youtube.com/user/LanceSTS
    • Email
Re: importance of ankle flexibility
« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2013, 04:44:30 pm »
+2

  Lack of mobility at the ankle, knee, or hip will negatively affect movement period.  The other joints have to take up the slack that the limited range area can not handle adequately.  Look at basketball players who always wore those stiff/elongated ankle braces, many developed knee issues shortly after.  If youre unsure of whether or not your ankle mobility is adequate, look at the ankle rocker tests on youtube. The fix is the test if youre lacking.
Relax.

LBSS

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12841
  • plugging away...
  • Respect: +7949
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: importance of ankle flexibility
« Reply #2 on: April 23, 2013, 04:57:26 pm »
+1
glad you're back, lance.  :-*
Muscles are nonsensical they have nothing to do with this bullshit.

- Avishek

https://www.savannahstate.edu/cost/nrotc/documents/Inform2010-thearmstrongworkout_Enclosure15_5-2-10.pdf

black lives matter

hennas87

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 75
  • dayum
  • Respect: +9
    • View Profile
    • my band
    • Email
Re: importance of ankle flexibility
« Reply #3 on: April 26, 2013, 05:29:51 pm »
0
thanks, lance.

kinda confused by what I found online though. I may not have gone in depth enough but I had trouble finding anyone talk about plantar flexion. on wikipedia it says:

 "The range of motion for plantar flexion is usually indicated in the literature as 30° to 40°, but sometimes also 50°"

I'm finding it hard to test myself on what mine is but from the best i can see I'd say I maybe get around 45 degrees.

The reason I ask this really is because I saw this video posted by joel smith which shows gerald green jumping and he gets really good downward flexion and comparing it with a video of my own jumping he definitely gets a fair bit more than me.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaI8DsdGcgA" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaI8DsdGcgA</a>

I've always had no trouble what so ever squatting atg so I'm pretty sure my dorsi flexion is cool.
boomshakala

LBSS

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12841
  • plugging away...
  • Respect: +7949
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: importance of ankle flexibility
« Reply #4 on: April 26, 2013, 05:37:22 pm »
0
i never get tired of watching that jump.
Muscles are nonsensical they have nothing to do with this bullshit.

- Avishek

https://www.savannahstate.edu/cost/nrotc/documents/Inform2010-thearmstrongworkout_Enclosure15_5-2-10.pdf

black lives matter

LanceSTS

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2255
  • Respect: +550
    • View Profile
    • http://www.youtube.com/user/LanceSTS
    • Email
Re: importance of ankle flexibility
« Reply #5 on: April 26, 2013, 06:13:16 pm »
0
thanks, lance.

kinda confused by what I found online though. I may not have gone in depth enough but I had trouble finding anyone talk about plantar flexion. on wikipedia it says:

 "The range of motion for plantar flexion is usually indicated in the literature as 30° to 40°, but sometimes also 50°"

I'm finding it hard to test myself on what mine is but from the best i can see I'd say I maybe get around 45 degrees.

The reason I ask this really is because I saw this video posted by joel smith which shows gerald green jumping and he gets really good downward flexion and comparing it with a video of my own jumping he definitely gets a fair bit more than me.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaI8DsdGcgA" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaI8DsdGcgA</a>

I've always had no trouble what so ever squatting atg so I'm pretty sure my dorsi flexion is cool.

Much of that is going to be highly influenced by achilles tendon length,  jumping mechanics, and foot length.   ITs also important to note when looking at elite jumpers, the way the achilles tendon is measured is actually checking dorsi flexion in the athlete, so a longer achilles= better results there without any type of mobility work whatsoever.

 It is always important to work on going from dorsi to plantar flexion when jumping/sprinting , especially during submax hops/drills, but it would be impossible to compare two different athletes with different achilles tendon lengths, foot legths, and plant styles on a relative scale.
Relax.

creativelyric

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 311
  • Respect: +22
    • AOL Instant Messenger - creativelyric
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: importance of ankle flexibility
« Reply #6 on: May 02, 2013, 04:38:06 am »
0
Speaking of mobility, how much of an emphasis should we put on stretching? Every day? Every other day? Only when we feel tight?

Also, is stretching the achilles tendon itself advised? I do it now and then, just wondering if it's alright.

Raptor

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 14552
  • Respect: +2469
    • Yahoo Instant Messenger - raptorescu
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: importance of ankle flexibility
« Reply #7 on: May 02, 2013, 06:15:42 am »
0
Kelly was recommending every day stretching for the calves... he said they tend to respond very well to this.

IMO, if you have posture issues (anterior/posterior pelvic tilt, thoracic mobility issues etc) it's a good idea to do it daily. I'm too lazy to do it though.

LanceSTS

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2255
  • Respect: +550
    • View Profile
    • http://www.youtube.com/user/LanceSTS
    • Email
Re: importance of ankle flexibility
« Reply #8 on: May 02, 2013, 01:47:50 pm »
0
Speaking of mobility, how much of an emphasis should we put on stretching? Every day? Every other day? Only when we feel tight?

Also, is stretching the achilles tendon itself advised? I do it now and then, just wondering if it's alright.


 The more mobile you are, the less of an issue stretching is, and vice versa.  Flexibility is more of a "teaching your body it is capable of moving through a certain range of motion, so high frequency works best.  Multiple times per day to start out with if you have issues, then you can maintain at a few times per week.

  You never want to "stretch" anything thats not strong enough to operate in the range of motion you are trying to achieve.  This is one reason things like holding the bottom range of a calf raise works so well for lower leg mobility.  You are strengthening the entire range of motion, the central nervous system will now "allow" this newly acquired range much more willingly.
Relax.

Raptor

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 14552
  • Respect: +2469
    • Yahoo Instant Messenger - raptorescu
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: importance of ankle flexibility
« Reply #9 on: May 02, 2013, 04:38:26 pm »
0
Would you hold that stretched position under weight (actively) or just maintain that stretched position without necessarily having weight on?

I guess since you said "calf raise" you also meant "under weight".

LanceSTS

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2255
  • Respect: +550
    • View Profile
    • http://www.youtube.com/user/LanceSTS
    • Email
Re: importance of ankle flexibility
« Reply #10 on: May 03, 2013, 09:32:58 pm »
0
 Either/or depending on how strong you are.  You should never feel like the muscle "gives" at the end range of motion, should always feel in control of whatever the load is.
Relax.