You just get used to trail running over time. If you’re nimble and light on your feet a slip almost never turns into a fall. With practice you dodge the bad steps without much thought or you step knowing it’s iffy, slide and keep running. You don’t commit hard down on your heel.

The form i use basically the “natural” running style. Land with your body over your foot, land on your foot flat or on the ball. This is good for trail running because it’s much easier to not commit to a step when you’re not planting hard with your heel.

I’ve never sprained an ankle trail running, not that it can’t happen. I’ve gone like 90 degrees on my ankle before but I can usually unweight and collapse on that leg and catch myself on the other leg and keep running. I run in sandals and I backpack in trail runners.

Trail running strengthens your ankles what with all the uneven ground that has to be compensated for.