Muay thai sparring:Constantly spraining ankles...

After almost every time I spar it seems I sprain my ankle. Ive been traing for rougly 2 years Ive fought in 2 exhibitions.

I am aware I should be landing on my shin, but due to the fact that im a southpaw my round house often nicks back leg or lands awkwardly causing sprains. Im trying to get in fight shape but constantly am slowed down by this. I already use ankle support and recovery methods.

any thoughts

 

You might want to see if you can strengthen your ankle before you keep kicking with it. Ankle sprains are often worse then a ankle break, even more so with high ankle sprains. They tent to linger forever.

If you are able to run and move on it i would go to physio and see if they have some drills you can do, but try to avoid hard contact on it for a while, and again physio can give you a better idea when they diagnose you because a ankle sprain can be anything from a week or two, too a couple months. Gl!

 

Yea I was kind of afraid that time off would be the answer, but its probably better, than sparring once, and sitting out 3 ratio Ive been doing, due to constant sprains.

I will look into the pt to strengthen ankle as well. I have been getting the problem in both ankles, so I would like to give them both treatment to ensure this doesnt keep happening in future

 

rest it for sure - but you may just sufffer from inherently weak ankles

are you a heavy lad?

 

Im actually 205, but quite lean for a light HW and was offered a fight at 185 but had to pass because my conditioning was off because of this constant nonsense.

I played football competatively my whole life from 9-22 (im 27 now) maybe all the wear and tear is just catching up to me, or as you stated maybe I just have weak ankles to begin with but did not have this problem throught my highschool and college football career, but muay thai is much rougher on ankles than football in my experience.

All the sprains are on the top inside part of the ankle, if that is indicative of anything

 

one thing i've learned from muay thai is injuries come back much easier than any other sport i've played - i'm also currently 205 and was asked to fight this year.

im too old to get hurt on purpose

 

Bands FTW. Seriously work on your ligaments man. If they dont work properly you will b pretty fuked for a long time, spoke 2 so many people with ankle injuries (serious ones) and they say it's never the same again.

 

shit. i had a BAD ankle sprain/dislocation last year (non training related)..i was in a cast for 10 weeks. sat out of bjj for a few months but have been back for a while and it feels ok. but i just started a muay thai class. Am i just asking for trouble with re-injuring that ankle?

 

In my opinion, if your recovering from ankle injury, focus on your hands and your boxing. Sparring and kicking those thai pads, is brutal on ankles.

I guess I should listen to my own advice, its just im so close to fight shape and I hate taking off another 3 months. I havent fought in over a year and im feening to challenge myself again. UUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHH so frustrating

 

Exactly. Once you've had a few bad sprains those ligaments get stretched out and you are much more prone to sprains.

Its a bummer.

 

I was contemplating taping my ankles daily but I wonder if taping it daily would be a good suggestion.

The only reason I am questioning doing this is that keeping my ankles at roughly 90 degrees and non mobile might be difficult with kicking because I would not be able to flaten out foot but would instead land on toes.

Any thoughts.

 

I'm only just now at 100% again after a bad ankle sprain in the middle of last year, followed by a moderate ankle sprain on my other ankle a few months later. Both my ankles are permanently disfigured now (swelling that just never left, some calcification). However, they are feeling strong. I can't help that much because they've never felt particularly at risk in MT, however there's no way in hell I'd have played indoor soccer on for 6 months after the sprain.

 

you'd also severely break your toes

 

Jus bought a standard lonsdale white ankle support for 2 quid from a local shop. so if they're that cheap no excuses really.

 

Im not familiar with "lonsdale" ankle support, but I personally where ankle support, in the form of a velcro'd on material, that I can tighten to my liking, but still doesnt do shit.

Im contemplating some cortizone shots. My last doctor wouldnt do it, and just kept me in rehab for a cpl months when I tour ligaments about a year ago. Ive also heard of growth hormone used to repair joints.

 

I have both now that you mention it.

The one you velcro up for wen i damaged ligaments, I found it quite useful you jus hav to do it quit etight an not leave it on for too long, so helps i fyou can move around or not hav 2 keep it on.

The lonsdale one i spurely an elasticated ankle support that slips on, probly not very useful for those with current serious ankle injuries.

 

here you go guys. it's an article from t-nation on strengthening your ankles.

TESTOSTERONE NATION | World's Largest Bodybuilding and Weight Loss Underground Nation

 

Thanks alot for article. This is the shit I got to read

 

no problem. you guys should check that site out often. they usually have really good articles every week

 

Ive been reading em for about a decade now.. it has its up and downs, but lots and lots of good info.

A basic proprioception drill has helped my ankles out quite a bit.. simply balance on one leg, and get on your toes... hold it as long as you can. Do this a bunch, on both sides.