Esther Smith, DPT, Cert. MDT
Doctor Of Physical Therapy, Pilates Instructor, High Performance Coach, Owner Of Grassroots Physical Therapy And Inventor And CEO Of Ankle Flex
Ankle Flex’s patented technology was developed by Physical Therapist Esther Smith, DPT, Cert. MDT. Through 14 years of clinical experience, and her own ankle injuries, Esther learned that a simple ankle sprain or ankle boot use following a fracture can cause dorsiflexion loss. She has seen many patients develop kinetic chain issues because of their chronic loss of ankle dorsiflexion including low back pain, hip bursitis, sciatica, knee pain, tendinopathies and toe deformities like bunions. Esther created Ankle Flex because at home resources to restore ankle mobility were limited. The weight-bearing mobilization with movement that Ankle Flex provides replicates the manual therapy technique used in office by physical therapists.
Tested and refined for over a decade, Ankle Flex can be used at home or at the gym without assistance, allowing for deep stretching and mobilizing of the ankle joints and surrounding muscles to help increase ankle dorsiflexion. Esther knows that Ankle Flex will allow her fellow PTs and movement specialists to spend more time on the movements and techniques that matter in the clinic, studios and athletic training facilities. Trust Ankle Flex to expedite and improve recovery and help to prevent potential systemic movement issues related to asymmetric or chronically limited ankle dorsiflexion.
From helping an Olympic Downhill Ski Racer to recover from a near career-ending ankle injury and return to compete in the 2022 Winter Olympics, to training the world’s best rock climbers and alpinists, to working with countless people to regain their quality of life in her clinical practice, Esther is thrilled to offer this tool so that everyone can benefit and move more freely.
To learn more about Esther and dive into the extensive library of self treatment resources that she has created please visit her Practice website Grassroots Physical Therapy, blog posts, Outside Online articles and YouTube channel.