How to Do Ankle Rolls: Mobility and Strength Guide

Learn the correct technique for Ankle Rolls to improve joint mobility, prevent injury, and strengthen the supporting muscles of the lower leg.

How to Perform

  1. Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart and your hands resting on your hips or a stable surface for balance.
  2. Shift your weight onto your left leg and lift your right foot slightly off the ground by bending your knee.
  3. Extend your right foot and begin rotating your ankle in a slow, clockwise circle while keeping the rest of your leg still.
  4. Focus on drawing the largest circle possible with your toes to engage the full range of motion of the joint.
  5. Complete the designated repetitions in one direction before reversing the movement to a counter-clockwise rotation.
  6. Lower your foot back to the starting position and repeat the entire sequence with your left ankle.

Common Mistakes

  • Moving the entire lower leg instead of isolating the ankle joint
  • Rushing through the rotation without achieving a full range of motion
  • Holding your breath or tensing the shoulders during the movement

Muscles Worked

Primary movers

  • Ankle

Stabilizers

  • Tibialis anterior
  • Gastrocnemius
  • Peroneals

Related Guides

Ankle · Strength