Running into Peri-Menopause: Janet’s Jello-Ankle Adventure
Janet, a freshly minted empty nester navigating the wild world of peri-menopause, laced up her long-forgotten running shoes for a “short” jog. Her best friend Carla—a lifelong athlete and sports physical therapist—cheered her on, promising it would be “fun and empowering!” (Dr. Grit™ note: Famous last words before gravity and hormones conspire.)
About three minutes in, Janet’s joints stage-dived into chaos. Her ankles felt like rubber bands pilfered from the kitchen drawer. In her brain, the commentary track went full YouTube review:
“Why do my ankles feel like overcooked spaghetti? Is this a menopause thing, or am I auditioning for a limbo contest I didn’t sign up for?”
By block three, Janet blurted to Carla, “Do your ankles ever feel…um…loose? Like Jell-O in stilettos? Or am I just falling apart?” She braced for mockery.
Carla, with the calm assurance only a PT friend can muster, replied, “Janet, that’s totally normal—especially for cyclists turned runners. Your stabilizers have been on vacation for decades. Running recruits muscles and ligaments your body hasn’t asked to wake up since Zumba class in 2003. Hormones or no hormones, you’re simply retraining parts of you that skipped the memo.”
Janet exhaled—relieved she hadn’t uncovered a new medical condition dubbed “perimenopausal ankle wobbles.”
What the Sports PT Discusses
Carla’s no-bullsh*t pro tip plan (Dr. Grit™ approved) was simpler than hiring a private chef:
- Work on balance.
- Start with single-leg stands (30 seconds each) and level up to single-leg hops. Pretend you’re a flamingo invading a hopscotch court.
- Strengthen the ankles.
- Calf raises (3×15) and resistance-band drills—plantar flexion to eversion, the full ankle alphabet.
- Stick to predictable terrain.
- Flat sidewalks before you tackle moon-cratered trails.
- Check your shoes.
- Replace those 10-year-old sneakers with supportive running shoes tailored to your foot.
- Watch for warning signs.
- Sharp pain, visible swelling, or repeated “giving way”? Time to call a pro—Carla, not Dr. Google.
Janet’s Takeaway
Peri-menopause might not come with coupon deals in the dairy aisle or a manual for wobble-ankle management, but it does come with friends who blend science and snark to make running—and life—far more entertaining.
As Dr. Grit™ would say: “If your ankles feel like jelly, you’re not breaking—you’re upgrading. Forward is always a pace, wobble and all.”
References
- Bramble, D. M., & Lieberman, D. E. (2004). Endurance running and the evolution of Homo. Nature, 432(7015), 345–352.
- Miller, K. L., et al. (2019). Effects of age and sex on lower extremity joint stiffness during running. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 51(3), 466–474.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or provide medical advice. Always consult your licensed healthcare provider before starting any new exercise or wellness routine. Amanda Duling is not a licensed medical professional.
© 2025 One Gear Short of Normal LLC. “Dr. Grit™” is a trademark of One Gear Short of Normal LLC.
