Ouch, my ankle!
Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 5:36 pm
Hello Everyone,
I thought this message board might be a fine place for me to ask this question. So I was bouldering out at Rumbling Bald a little over a week ago by myself (yes, I know that is stupid), and I took about a 15' fall off a boulder and landed perfectly in the middle of my crashpad. When I hit the crashpad, my ankle collapsed and turned ripping ligaments left and right. According to the orthopedic doctor, who is also an ankle specialist, when one of those ligaments tore, it actually ripped a piece of bone off of my ankle. Now I am going to be unable to walk normally for probably 4 weeks if not longer, and I will not be able to climb for who knows how long.
About 2 years ago I was bouldering in a gym, took a fall from a very similar height, landed perfectly again in the middle of a nice gym mat, and turned my ankle in a similar fashion. I was luckier that time, and the injury wasn't as severe. I have always know that I have week ankles, and I fear that if I don't do something soon, I will have to give up bouldering (at least anything that is even remotely tall) all together.
So this is where I was hoping this online community might be able to help me out. I have two main questions, first does anyone have any suggestions for exercises that I can do to help strengthen my ankles? My second question is, has anyone ever heard of or have any experience with any kind of supplementary ankle support I could use when I am climbing?
I would love to hear any suggestions that you guys might have about the above questions, or any ideas that will help me recover more quickly. I can't afford physical therapy, so any thoughts there would be appreciated. Or maybe there is something I might change about my diet that might help? Any thoughts or suggestions will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
I thought this message board might be a fine place for me to ask this question. So I was bouldering out at Rumbling Bald a little over a week ago by myself (yes, I know that is stupid), and I took about a 15' fall off a boulder and landed perfectly in the middle of my crashpad. When I hit the crashpad, my ankle collapsed and turned ripping ligaments left and right. According to the orthopedic doctor, who is also an ankle specialist, when one of those ligaments tore, it actually ripped a piece of bone off of my ankle. Now I am going to be unable to walk normally for probably 4 weeks if not longer, and I will not be able to climb for who knows how long.
About 2 years ago I was bouldering in a gym, took a fall from a very similar height, landed perfectly again in the middle of a nice gym mat, and turned my ankle in a similar fashion. I was luckier that time, and the injury wasn't as severe. I have always know that I have week ankles, and I fear that if I don't do something soon, I will have to give up bouldering (at least anything that is even remotely tall) all together.
So this is where I was hoping this online community might be able to help me out. I have two main questions, first does anyone have any suggestions for exercises that I can do to help strengthen my ankles? My second question is, has anyone ever heard of or have any experience with any kind of supplementary ankle support I could use when I am climbing?
I would love to hear any suggestions that you guys might have about the above questions, or any ideas that will help me recover more quickly. I can't afford physical therapy, so any thoughts there would be appreciated. Or maybe there is something I might change about my diet that might help? Any thoughts or suggestions will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!