Ankle strength should not be an afterthought.
The ankle is a joint that you use every day. is in which your shinbones and calf bones meet, connect your lower leg to your leg. Strong shoes it is necessary that you remain mobile, balanced and stable on your feet; they also help you walk, run, climb, and stand with ease.
“We think about the ankle a lot. The point is that the ankle is not part of the balance system. In fact, it is the front line of the balance system,” he explains. Terry TateossianFounder, Certified Lifestyle Medicine Coach, Trainer and Nutritionist for Women 40+ at THOR – Rose House who has completed various advanced training to support her work in women’s health and midlife weight loss. “When you feel yourself starting to balanceTaiho is the first line of defense. Small, quick adjustments in the leg and lower leg are what get you engaged before the big hip muscles are activated. The specific consequences of reduced ankle stability cause a number of problems: your foot clearance is reduced, your side-to-side mobility and lateral stability fail, your gait is shortened, which in itself creates a risk of falling, and your stability on stairs is compromised.
Basically, ankle strength is essential to leading an active and independent life. To start building leg strength over exercise, below are four daily exercises you can incorporate into your routine.
The heel is raised with the opposite touch
Tateossian tells us, “heel raises are a direct exercise to strengthen the calf and stabilize the rear legs, which helps strengthen the calf muscles, because they are the fastest growing muscles in the body around the age of 60.”
- Start standing tall, facing the counter, and rest your hands lightly on the floor for support.
- Keep your feet hip-width apart.
- Slowly rise up onto the balls of your feet.
- Hold at the top for 1 second.
- Slowly back down.
- Do 3 sets of 15 to 20 reps, Tempo 3010. Rest 60 seconds between sets.
The shoe rises
“It’s a very small exercise, but I highly recommend it. That tibialis anterior – on the front side of the shin – is what we use when we walk. As we age, and this muscle weakens, the foot drops a little and the toes stick to carpets or curbs, which greatly increases the risk of falls in older people.” Preventable with a daily thumbs up,” Tateossian said.
- Start by standing with your back a few inches from the wall.
- Keep your heels planted on the floor.
- Lift your toes and the balls of your feet off the ground as high as possible.
- Slowly down.
- Do 3 sets of 15 to 20 reps, Tempo 3010. Rest 60 seconds between sets.
Maintaining a single balance
“This exercise directly trains proprioception, which is the sense of where our body is in space. It helps prevent falls, which are the number one injury for people over 60,” Tateossian explains.
- Start by standing in front of the board for balance.
- Lift one leg slightly off the ground.
- Hold your balance on the standing leg for about 15 to 30 seconds.
- Do 3 sets per side.
Joint alphabet
“This is simple enough to do every day, and it moves the ankle through its full range of motion in every direction. The muscles targeted here are the muscles that prevent lateral ankle rotation, which is a major cause of ankle injury in adults over 60,” notes Tateossian.
- Start sitting on a high chair.
- Lift one leg off the ground.
- Slowly draw the letters of the alphabet with your thumb in the air.
- Switch sides.
Alexa Mellardo
Alexa is a freelance writer, editor and content strategist in Greenwich, CT. She has over 11 years of experience in health, fitness, nutrition, travel, lifestyle and home. Read more about Alexa




