Surfing with weak ankles

[SoCalSurfing]

Just sprained my ankle running really bad - black and blue, all swollen.

I have done this at least 7 times in the last 10 years so nothing new I guess.

However, now that I am getting up on the board a lot more, I worry about folding my ankle on the pop up.

I'm going to start strength training with resistance bands but want to know if it anyone else has this problem and what you do with weak ankles for surfing?

I have booties but still thinking about wrapping the ankles in ace bandage...

Any other suggestions?

Thank You!

[Jimi]

Well, sounds like there might be some underlying weakness you need to address. Get a doctor/physio to have a look and there will be exercises they recommend, but get it looked at properly. You will then know if there is something wrong to destabilise the joint, or if you just need to be a bit gentler.

On the times I've surfed with a rolled ankle, the worst time isn't the standing on the surfboard, but it's the standing on the sandbank and walking around where there's more risk.

Underwater sand can be pretty hard, so don't jump off at the end of a wave and stand up quickly.

A neoprene ankle brace may work better than bandages, as it won't hold water or get soft.

BUT get it looked at if you're in doubt.

[jaffa1949]

SoCalSurfing , you may well help yourself after attending to the actual injury, by seeing a doctor or Physio.
It may well be advisable to see a Podiatrist (might be called something different in SoCal), to have your running and walking gait analysed. For my distant point of view it sounds like you may have an excessive pronation problem ( but that clearly needs to be correctly diagnosed!
Your shoes can then be fitted with orthotics that are especially made for your problem that also strengthen any weakness in the alignment and structure in the foot over time.

Strangely except for what Jimi said in thirty years of Chiropractic and related sports medicine I wasn't aware of many minor ankle injuries being caused by surfing, more often on the sand and approaches to the surf.
Anyway be professionally advised and follow instructions

[parrysurf]

Spending much time on my SUP over the last few years I have developed an ankle issue. Seems to aggravate when I pop over a lot of waves...like a wind swell day. Regular surfing and a normal SUP session will not cause the pain...just when I go over a hundred waves! Not looking for any help, just an FYI for ankle pain and the surf.

[ananthony]

After a sprained ankle, stability is greatly reduced, and even after recovery, the ankle is often sprained. For this situation, the only feasible solution is to wear compression sleeves for ankle weak. Provides support for the ankle while compressing the ankle to reduce swelling.