Side Step Farmers Walk
Key notes
- Type of Exercise: Balance and co-ordination
- Muscles Used: Focuses on ankle stability
- Good for: Rehabilitating lateral ankle sprains and building confidence to move
- When to use during rehab: Middle stages
Equipment options
If you’re doing this exercise in clinic you’ll need a couple of weights (either dumbells or plates would be best). If the patient is doing this at home they can put a moderately heavy backpack on instead.
Method
- Start by having your patient hold two heavy weights (one in each hand).
- Next, have them go up onto their tiptoes and take a step to the side with one of their legs.
- Have them bring the other leg across and continue this movement so that they are side-stepping across the length of the room.
- Once they’ve done this, have them do the same movements again, only this time going in the opposite direction.
- This exercise will encourage ankle stability and motor control around the ankle and is particularly useful to patients who have suffered lateral ankle sprains.
