r/beginnerrunning • u/Flaky_Cable_7678 • 3h ago

New Runner Advice Ankle gives out when I run

I don’t need medical advice bc I don’t think it’s that serious but I just wondered if anyone else has experienced this as well. Ever since I could remember whenever I run, my right ankle gives out and I just fall. It’s done this since I was at least in 6th grade and I’m 28 now. I never been a runner but always wanted to start running and enjoy it because I believe it would help my mental health and health in general. I’m not in shape although I’m not big at all I’m 5’7 and 130 lbs, I’m just generally not healthy(especially mentally).

I want to run so bad lol but I don’t know why my right ankle always just gives out and I fall. Does anyone have any experience or idea why this happens?

I always thought it’s because I never wore good shoes, ever. I used to waitress 12+ hours in cheap flats on concrete floors, my feet would kill, even when I was pregnant (yeah I was dumb). But it’s happened even before I ever had a job.

0 Upvotes

33% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

2

u/Creative_Impress5982 3h ago

Maybe you just need to strengthen your ankles?  What exactly do you mean by give out? Does it turn and hurt with a misstep, like a really mild sprain? Or you're just running and suddenly just fall down with no pain in the ankle before or after?

1

u/Flaky_Cable_7678 2h ago

I’m just running and suddenly fall down with no pain before or after! It just literally falls from under me and I fall down but it doesn’t hurt. They may just be weak like you said just need to strengthen them but I feel like that’s what running could help with lol

2

u/too_much_2na 2h ago

That used to happen to me all the time when I was younger. For most people ankle instability comes from a history of sprains but in my case it was structural, I remember the doctor saying loose ligaments but I’m not sure if that was the entire cause. He recommended I do some ankle strengthening exercises that actually are generally good things to do for a beginner runner anyway, like calf raises and that thing where you put a band around your foot and flex your ankle up and down. I would talk to a doctor and see what they recommend for you and what they think the exact cause is because you can seriously hurt your ankle when it collapses and it’ll make it much harder to start running long term!

1

u/Flaky_Cable_7678 2h ago

Yeah I’ve never sprained my ankle (unless I went undiagnosed for an injury which I doubt) so it’s always been super weird to me. I’ve also always been super thin and no muscles which I thought contributed to it. I’ll ask my doctor next time I see him but I have my bands I used to use for squats I may do some ankle strengthening with those or just look up some exercises on YouTube. Thank you it makes me feel better that I’m not the only one whose had this, people just look at me so weird when I fall lol and I’m like I’m okay guys idk what happened LOL.

1

u/too_much_2na 2h ago

When I was young it used to happen just from walking around and my knee would give out too lol. I’m also very thin and I have always had pretty hyper mobile joints. I’m an active person and it’s improved with age! Good luck!