One of the many benefits of wearing Olympic weightlifting shoes is that they provide “false” ankle mobility, allowing an increased range of motion in the bottom position of any variation of the squat.
Tight ankles, and calves, impact the bottom of the squat position by causing the athlete to roll forward on the toes, or cause an incorrect spacing of the feet, in order to compensate for poor mobility. Thus, the athlete is unable to generate an optimal level of force through the heels and midfoot, as the force is now being transferred from the balls of the foot or, as is the case of feet spacing, the quads are engaged more, with little to no hamstring and glute involvement. All resulting in the submaximal ability to lift at your full potential, as well as increasing the possibility of injury.
Yes lifting shoes are a temporary fix for tight ankles. But mobility in the distal lower extremities is what is needed for long term gains, as well as injury prevention.
Watch the two videos below to learn how to unglue your ankles and calves for optimal performance.
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