< shift/library / fitness

Ankle Mobility Protocol

fitness · easy · 3 minutes daily

What is Ankle Mobility Protocol?

Stiff ankles cause knee pain, poor squats, plantar fasciitis, and compensatory back problems. This 3-minute daily protocol restores ankle dorsiflexion and prevents a cascade of injuries. The most overlooked mobility issue in the modern body.

Is there evidence for it?

EVIDENCEmoderate

How do you do Ankle Mobility Protocol?

  1. 1.Wall Ankle Stretch (1 min each side): face a wall, place one foot 4-5 inches away, knee touching the wall. Drive knee forward over toes while keeping heel on ground. Move foot back until knee barely touches
  2. 2.Banded Ankle Distraction (1 min each side): loop a resistance band around a rack at ankle height and your rear ankle. Step forward into a lunge position and drive your knee forward, letting the band pull your ankle joint open
  3. 3.Calf/Achilles foam roll (1 min): sit with calf on a foam roller, cross other leg on top for pressure. Roll slowly from ankle to knee, pausing on tender spots for 20 seconds
  4. 4.Test: can you squat ass-to-grass with heels on the ground? If not, ankle mobility is limiting you. Retest monthly — progress is measurable
  5. 5.Do this before every leg workout, or daily if your ankles are very restricted. 3 minutes invested prevents months of knee and back problems

How long does it take?

3 minutes daily.

Is it hard to start?

easy.

Source: Kelly Starrett (Becoming a Supple Leopard), Dr. Aaron Horschig (Squat University), physical therapy protocols
fitness · health · recovery · performance
> find what fits you

Related in fitness

Micro-Workouts (Exercise Snacking)Instead of one long gym session, do 3-5 short bursts of exercise throughout the day: 10 squats here, 5...Mobility Routine (5-Minute Daily)A 5-minute daily mobility sequence that addresses the modern body: tight hips, rounded shoulders, stiff...Marathon Training (Intermediate)Structured 16-20 week program building to 42.2km/26.2mi through progressive long runs, tempo work, and...Nasal Breathing During Exercise (Maffetone Method)Training exclusively through the nose at or below the Maximum Aerobic Function (MAF) heart rate to build...Exercise Snacking (Micro-Workouts)Brief 1-5 minute bouts of vigorous physical activity performed intermittently throughout the day to break up...Gary Brecka 30-30-30 MethodViral morning protocol: eat 30g protein within 30 minutes of waking, then do 30 minutes of low-intensity...

> everything in fitness

This is one entry from the library Shift matches against. It is general information, not advice about you, and nothing on this page came from anyone's conversation.