[K Manley]

Hi Lost Dog,

I have a similar issue (I seem to be saying that to everyone who posts in the injury forum - its nice to be part of a group). I was a huge duck walker as a kid and eventually turned into a toe walker.

I'm sure you've seen this vid (not in a dirty way but I get the impression you've ‘been around the block a few times’): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxr9-IB0Rr4

When I tried out these movements I was stunned to how little ankle flexibility I really have. I mean I always knew it was crap but not that it was that bad. I have no real active plantar flexion and it seems that my foot will constantly put itself in positions where it will not have to bend in that direction ie. sumo squats, sumo deadlifts, toe/duck walking. When I've tried to force parallel stances in the gym my body compensates for the lack of bending in the ankle with bending elsewhere… hmmm… I wonder where my history of back problems comes from. I think my foot position is a result of my tight calves, which has over the years traveled up the kinetic chain to my hips' external rotators (I also think it has contributed to my lordosis- but that theory takes a long time to tell).

By doing the stuff Hartman recommends in the video everyday I've been noticing improvement. When I started I couldn't get my knee and toe touching a wall at the same time, less than a month later I can get almost an inch away. I'm hoping that this release work will get rid of the gordian knot in my calves so I can take more traditional posture remedies (mindfulness, tib. Ant. Strengthening, etc..).

I’d be very curious to see if your problem lines up with mine, I’d love to be able to compare notes on what treatment works for you. I’ve heard EC making a lot of fuss about ankle flexibility lately, and to me it would be so awesome if I actually have stumbled upon one of my huge performance limiters.

If you do have the same issue as me there are some obvious good points: I’ve never had to work calves in my life and they grow like weeds, sprints are a piece of cake and I have the turnout of a prima ballerina (Prima I say!).


One day I will write a post without babbling. But not today it seems.