Clients have ‘wobbly’ ankles? It could be their intrinsic foot control and not ‘weak’ ankles. Dr. Evan Osar discusses a simple 3-step footwork and corrective exercise strategy for foot strength The foot needs to adapt to the ground and then become stable for support and push off. When exercising it should generally be supported upon the tripod - under the big toe, small toe, and heel. The intrinsic muscles - including the quadratus plantar and lumbricals - redirect the pull of the flexor digitorim longus and help support the metatarsal phalangeal (MTP’s) joints.

Wobbly ankles is often an attempt - and frontal plane over-correction - to gain support upon the tripod. If this is the cause, we’ve found success with the following approach.

1. Stimulate (activate) the mechanoreceptors in the quadratus plantar and lumbricals - hands work best for lumbricals since they are deep.

2. Short toe flexion - Flex at the MTP’s without using the long toe...