Rusty, Morrisville, NC asked:
I hurt my ankle playing pickup basketball. now what?
Anytime you injure an ankle, a neurological reaction occurs, inhibiting the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus--two muscles that stabilize your hips. Besides icing, elevating, and resting your ankle, you must reprogram nerve pathways that control these muscles. Include more hip exercises, such as tube walking, in your workout. And start performing standing exercises on one leg--it's the single best way to prevent ankle injuries in the future. Add this tweak to make sure you're ready to withstand any court challenge this summer:
Lose Your Shoes
Try single-leg exercises barefoot -- you'll strengthen your foot muscles, which improves balance and reduces the ankle motion that leads to injuries. It also helps you move more efficiently through your hips, which protects your ankles and knees and makes you a better athlete.