Lack of mobility could keep you from an optimal swim stroke and put you more at risk for injury.
How does your flexibility stack up? These five tests are a good indicator of how mobile your swim-specific muscles and joints are. If you don’t make the grade in certain areas, improve your flexibility with the listed stretches from Bryan Hill, co-owner of Rehab United (Rehabunited.com) in San Diego. Hill recommends to hold each stretch for 30–60 seconds or to drive in and out of the stretch 10 times.
Test #1: Ankle
It’s common for triathletes who started as runners to lack good plantar flexion (the action of pointing your toe), which can hold back their kick.
Test yourself: Point your toe, aim for an angle of at least 50 degrees.