New Leg Position = Aching Ankles

[EquestrianRider]

My new instructor has changed my leg position around, and the last couple of lessons my ankles seem to be paying the price for it. In the past I have had problems with aching ankles (figured it was due to my putting my heels down very far, but I no longer put them down too far, so that can't be the reason), and now they are back. The aching ankles really infringe on my lesson, as I sometimes will have to stop my schooling so that I can take my feet out of my stirrups and give my ankles a rest. I'm very serious about my riding, and I want to get back into showing after having a bad fall about a month ago, which has kept me from riding up until just recently.

Has anyone ever had their ankles begin aching after they took on an entirely different leg position? Did it go away? Any tips/ideas on how to help my ankles feel better?

All tips are appreciated!

[Sammii]

Yep, you are definitely not on your own here. I have really improved my position and my muscles in my ankle joints and lower leg haven't trained themselves to quite stay there and go there naturally quite yet so i am having to add pressure to them which in turn is making them ache - really bad!

But they are getting better, and each time i ride it's a longer time before they ache so it must be improving. The more you keep your leg in that position the quicker it will take for your muscles to be trained.

:)

[DavidH]

Aching ankles come from trying to put weight in to the heel. Not strictly correct but widely taught. Weight should be down trhough the ball of the foot as putting weight in the heel naturally brings your leg forward.
So rather than pushing down in to the heel, push your weight in to the ball of your foot and LIFT your toes. Gives the same position without the tension.

[Galooop]

Oh wow yes. Sometimes I feel like theres just going to be a POP and suddenly my foot will just hang limp from my leg!!

Nobody ever said riding was comfortable - or good for the body!! :rolleyes:

[samsaria]

Yes, i've gotten new pains as my leg position changes.

The inside of my just below my knees kills me!! This is from concentrating on turning my leg inward all the way from the hip/groin/whatever u call it, instead of turning it at the ankle :)

It hurts like hell!

[Kate F.]

If joints are hurting it's probably because they're stiff. Whether it's pushing your heel down, pulling it up, gripping with your knees, trying to hold your ankle in fixed position or whatever, anything that "locks" the joint is likely to be painful because you have to have your joints "open" to absorb the movement of the horse. The point of having the heel just a little below the toe is to maximise the range of movement it can go through to take up the movement of the horse, so you have to be able to have it as close as you can to that position without tensing up.

Of course, it's vicious circle - the more it hurts, the more you tense, the more it hurts etc.

I'd talk to your instructor about it and see whether he/she can work on some balance and relaxation exercises with you to help your leg "fall" into a good position through balance, not through you trying to hold it there.

[clipclop]

Two things I can recomend. Firstly the bendy stirrups help to combat this. Secondly if it is a problem with general stiffness try wearing a magnetic therapy bracelet yourself.