03/22/2026
The ankle is SUPPOSED to pronate and move.
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Above is an example of a client I have been working with who had been dealing with chronic, persistent left ankle pain (peroneal tendinopathy).
In the left video, she is currently dealing with that left ankle pain as she runs.
When you compare it to the right, it actually moves less.
However, this is a subconscious protective strategy to prevent further left ankle pain.
During the right clip, she is no longer dealing with pain in that left ankle as she runs.
You can see it moving more side to side and this is not a bad thing.
The pronation (specifically calcaneal eversion) allows you to absorb and store forces more into the connective tissue, commonly, the plantar fascia, which is potential energy to help you move forward.
You should also pay attention to the hip control as the foot moves under the body. There is more control of the hip in the "after" video.
By the way, there were no specific cues given for the hip and ankle in this case.
This happened at the subconscious level.
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Now, I did want to mention that you may note that she is wearing different shoes as this can influence how you run.
However, when watching her run with the Topo Phantom (right side) initially, she was still stiff in that foot… and still had some pain.
If you are curious why I recommended a change in shoe, I want a slightly higher heel drop to offset the heel and reduce compression on the painful peroneal tendon.
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Keep in mind that this is for educational purposes only. This does not replace medical advice.
If you are looking for more professional guidance from a running expert, check out the link in my bio!
