Are your ankles affecting your squat form?
Do you have ankle tightness that's impacting your squat form? Here are two simple ways to find out!
How to Test Your Ankles during Squats At Home:
Video yourself doing these movements and then analyze the video for signs of ankle tightness below.
Test your upper body stability: When you do a deep squat, watch the angle of your upper body. If your upper body starts to lean too far forward, that can indicate a problem with your ankles.
Set your feet up heel toe (close to a wall for balance if you need it) and hold a long stick vertically to your body and lined up with the bony part of your front leg to use it as a guide. When bending both knees together, test if you back knee can go beyond the stick (it should be able to!). Try this on both sides to test both ankles for tightness!
It is important to fix functional issues that may set you up for injury, especially before lifting heavy weight. If you notice any weakness, discomfort, or instability while doing the exercises in this video, be sure to call your therapist to improve your ankle mobility.