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My Story with Ankle Injuries

Let me take you back to late 2005. I first hurt my ankle—not a major injury, but enough to slow me down. I rolled it at a park just outside of Fullerton College where I was a student at the time. I thought it would heal on its own, so I didn’t worry too much. I was still wrestling on it. two to three bookings a weekend. Business as usual. But a few months later, in early 2006, I injured the other ankle because I was compensating for the first one. The pain eventually faded, and since I was in decent shape at the time, I figured I was good to go. Didn’t even think about it. Rehab? Who needs it?

Fast forward to 2023, and here I am, seriously thinking about getting back in the wrestling ring. I’ve been out of the game since 2009. But there’s a catch—I’m almost 250 pounds now, and those old injuries I never bothered to rehab? They’ve come back to haunt me. Every time I try to get back in shape, my ankles (and every other part of my body that’s been injured over the years) start complaining. It’s a tough lesson learned: skipping rehab might seem like a quick fix, but trust me, it’s not worth the long-term cost.

Why Ankle Rehab Matters

1. Preventing Long-Term Issues: If you don’t rehab your ankles properly, you’re setting yourself up for chronic pain and instability. The damaged ligaments might not heal as they should, leaving your ankle weak and more prone to future injuries. Over time, you could even develop arthritis or find yourself dealing with repeated sprains—all because you didn’t take rehab seriously.
2. Getting Your Flexibility Back: After an ankle injury, it’s common for your ankle to become stiff and lose its full range of motion. Rehab exercises are key to getting that flexibility back so you can move without pain or discomfort.
3. Building Strength and Stability: Rehab isn’t just about healing—it’s about strengthening the muscles, tendons, and ligaments around your ankle. This helps you recover fully and makes your ankle more stable, so you’re less likely to get hurt again.
4. Improving Balance: Ankle injuries can mess with your balance, making you more prone to falls. Rehab exercises help improve your body’s sense of where it is in space (that’s called proprioception), so you can regain control and coordination.

Why Do People Skip Rehab?

1. Not Knowing It’s Important: A lot of people don’t realize just how crucial rehab is. I know I didn’t. They think that once the pain is gone, they’re healed. But just because you’re not in pain doesn’t mean your ankle is back to 100%.
2. Underestimating the Injury: It’s easy to brush off an ankle injury, especially if it’s “just a sprain.” But even a mild sprain can do some serious damage to your ligaments if you don’t take care of it properly.
3. Life Gets Busy: We’ve all got a lot going on, and rehab exercises can feel like just one more thing on the to-do list. It’s tempting to skip them, especially if you feel like your injury is getting better on its own.
4. Avoiding the Pain: Let’s be real—rehab exercises can be uncomfortable, especially at first. That discomfort can make it easy to put off doing the exercises you need to heal.

Plyometric Exercises to Strengthen and Protect Your Ankles

Plyometrics are all about explosive movements that build strength, speed, and power. They’re also fantastic for rehabbing and protecting your ankles because they work the muscles and tendons around your joint in a dynamic way. Here are a few plyometric exercises to add to your ankle rehab routine:

1. Jump Rope: Jumping rope is simple but effective. It helps with coordination, strengthens your ankle muscles, and improves your balance. Start with short sessions and gradually build up as your ankle gets stronger.
2. Lateral Hops: Stand on one leg and hop side to side over a small object or line. This exercise is great for challenging your balance and strengthening the muscles on the sides of your ankle, which are often the weakest after an injury.
3. Box Jumps: Start with a small box or step and jump onto it with both feet, focusing on landing softly. As your ankle strength improves, you can gradually increase the height of the box to keep challenging yourself.
4. Single-Leg Hops: Stand on one leg and hop forward, backward, and side to side. This exercise helps with balance, coordination, and strength, making your ankles more resilient against future injuries.

Managing Pain Naturally

Rehabbing an injury can be painful, but managing that pain doesn’t have to mean relying on pharmaceuticals. THC and CBD, the active compounds in cannabis, offer natural alternatives that many find effective for pain relief and inflammation. Whether you’re looking for something to take the edge off while you heal or seeking a longer-term solution for chronic pain, these compounds can be a part of your recovery toolkit. If you’re interested in learning more about cannabis, including how to grow it yourself, check out my ebook, Marijuana Growing Guide, available on Amazon. It’s packed with tips and information that can help you get started on your journey with cannabis.

Wrapping It Up

Ankle injuries might seem like no big deal, but if you don’t take the time to rehab them properly, you could end up with long-term problems. Rehab is the key to getting your strength, stability, and full range of motion back. By adding exercises like plyometrics to your routine, you can not only recover fully but also protect your ankles from future injuries. Don’t let a quick fix turn into a chronic issue—take the time to heal right. Hope this post helped you.