Ankles rolling out on inline skates - normal? or not enough ankle support in the skates?

Question
Hi Pat, I am a 39 year old who has never been on inline
skates before - and it's been a long time since I've been
on roller skates.  I bought myself a pair of fairly
inexpensive inline skates, because I'd like to learn to
skate with my kids.  I am just trying them out and finding
that my ankles want to roll outwards.  Is this just a
function of needing to practice standing in the skates to
strengthen my ankles?  Or do the skates lack enough ankle
support/should I return these and look for a different
pair?  Thanks for your help!

Answer
Hi Lori,
  I've never heard on anyone's ankles turning outward.  In most cases the ankles turn inward due to lack of muscle tone and skating with the feet too far apart.

  If your not bowlegged it could possibly be that your muscles need to be strengthened or the skates do not have enough support for you or the skates are too big for you or you do not have them tight enough around the ankle area.

It's a process of elimination so lets do it in this order:

1)  Are you bowlegged?  If so, this would cause your ankles to roll
   outward.  If this is the case inline skates may not be for you.

2)  Support:  Are the boots hard plastic or soft fabric?
             If they are fabric then there's probably not enough
             support for your ankles.  Try tightening the straps
             in the ankle area to see if that helps.

             If they are a hard plastic try tightening up the straps
             to see if that gives you more support to keep your
             ankles straight up.

3)  Are the skates possibly too big for you?  Skates should fit like
   a glove.  Your toes should come right to the end of the boot
   but not so you have to curl your toes when all your weight in on
   the skate.  They should be snug all the way around and your foot
   should not slide back and forth nor should it be loose in the
   ankle area.  Your foot should feel like it's snugged in but not
   to tight that you can't bend at the ankle.

4)  If none of the above correct the problem, then you may just need
   to strengthen your ankles.  Just continue to skate being aware
   that you need to focus on keeping your ankles straight and the
   wheels straight up so they are not tilting to one side or
   the other.  

   It will be tough for a while but the ankles will strengthen
   all by themselves by skating in the correct position.  If after
   a certain amount of time it doesn't seem to work and your ankles
   hurt, you may need an orthotic insert in your skate to turn your
   ankle inward or you may just have to go back to regular roller
   skates.

   Just keep an eye on your ankles and listen to your body.  
   Continued skating with them turned out could damage your ankles.

Good Luck....I hope this information has been helpful.  If I can help with anything further, feel free to write again.

Pat