Ankle injuries are more common than you think - here's how to protect yours

They are the body's primary shock absorber, vital for balance, standing, walking and running, but most of us rarely think about our ankles - until we hurt them. These painful incidents are very common, says Genevieve Tawiah, a performance physiotherapist who has worked on shows like Strictly Come Dancing. But Tawiah tells What's Up Docs?

they can be avoided "if you are strong and aware of your foot and ankle and the chain that affects it". Here are three ways to strengthen your ankles: This article contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies.

You may want to read Meta’s Instagram cookie policy , external and privacy policy , external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’ . The foundation to building strong ankles and reducing the risk of injuries is being "brain to body aware", says Tawiah - meaning you can sense what movements your ankles are making without relying on looking down at them.