finally 180 degrees!

I almost had given up on the idea that my foot could ever be angled in line with the shin. The progression became smaller and smaller, but for some mysterious way the foot has given up resisitance lately.
Maybe a reason is that I do a foot warmup now by standing as high as possible on the toes for 20 times, before start sitting on the feet.
Anyway, after such a stretch I can get the top of the foot inline with the shin now . and even a bit further when pointing the foot inward.
The result is that the legs seem to be more buoyant during swimming.
So, warmup before stretching could be helpfull. dont give up.

On this recent swim/run competition at Rottnest, Perth, Australia, Paul Newsome ocean swims in running shoes!

Note also they were allowed to used paddles.

SA wrote:I almost had given up on the idea that my foot could ever be angled in line with the shin. The progression became smaller and smaller, but for some mysterious way the foot has given up resisitance lately.
Maybe a reason is that I do a foot warmup now by standing as high as possible on the toes for 20 times, before start sitting on the feet.
Anyway, after such a stretch I can get the top of the foot inline with the shin now . and even a bit further when pointing the foot inward.
The result is that the legs seem to be more buoyant during swimming.
So, warmup before stretching could be helpfull. dont give up.

It sounds good! I never even tried to stretch the ankles right before swimming. How often do you stretch and how long have you been doing it to get to 180° ?

Salvo

I didnt say I stretch them right  before swimming, but half of the times i do that too.
Everyday 1 or 2 minutes. But lately with 20 reps or so pointing them while lifting the body up with the feet before the stretch, or called standing on your toes.
This roughly for 4 years. gained about 20-30 degrees range of movement during that timespan.
Progress goes incredibly slow, but still hasnt stopped.

Very good, 1 or 2 minutes everyday is not even much. I've been doing more or less the same for years but honestly I haven't appreciated much improvement. I'll give this feet warmup a try.

Keep us updated with your progress. At more than 180 degs when you point the feet inward, your kicking speed should already have got to the next level.

Salvo

When I sit on the foot the end of range of motion is when knees are about 10 cm from the floor. After that point resistance really starts to increase.
If I lift the knees more, then the foot cannot rotate further in the main anklejoint and the contact point moves more toward the top of the foot, bending the foot from toes to ankle joint.This part is pretty stiff. Needs full bodyweight to bend that part.
It would be nice to get them to 180 degrees with very little force. Now I have to try very hard, which is not realistic while swimming.