For a Strong Body, You Need Strong Feet

[LAJ12345]

nytimes.com/2024/07/18/well...

“These three simple tests could save you a lot of pain in the long run.

…….Building long-term strength means training all parts of your body: your legs, your arms and your core. But what about your feet?

Your feet are responsible for mobility and balance. And having strong feet with dexterous toes is important for both for health and fitness, said Courtney Conley, the founder of Gait Happens, a Colorado-based online education resource focused on foot health.

But most people first learn about the concept of foot strengthening after an injury, she said. Incorporating foot and toe exercises into your routine long before you develop shin splints or plantar fasciitis can help prevent those injuries and improve how you walk, especially as you age.

“Toe weakness is the single biggest predictor of falls when we get older,” Dr. Conley said……….”

A 12-Minute Workout to Build Foot Strength:

nytimes.com/2024/07/18/well...

Additional options

If you don’t have time for this workout, there is another way to exercise your foot core. Limited studies have found walking in a minimalist shoe, such as Vibram FiveFingers footwear or Tolos (Altras, which have a wider toe box, use too much cushion to be considered true barefoot shoes) can improve foot health. Dr. Conley recommended combining them with occasional exercises.

[LindaP50]

I have achilles tendonitis getting physical therapy to strengthen feet and toes! For tendonitis calves are important as well - after all - everything is connected.

Take a tennis ball, put under foot and roll it back and forth, wiggling your toes. I do this every morning. Achilles tendonitis is no joke. Had 20 physical therapy treatments to reduce the inflammation, pain and swelling.

Thanks for posting!

[Smokeypurple]

The Melt Method is really interesting. I have a small set of their balls. It's about working on the neurofacial system.

meltmethod.com/en-gb/blogs/...

My neurophysio talks about stimulating the hands and feet like this to help with dystonia. I'm sure it's all connected.

[LAJ12345 in reply to Smokeypurple]

I also reckon it’s about the brain concentrating on sensation in parts of the body and remembering where the parts are so it can reconnect the pathways.

[Smokeypurple]

I definitely agree with that. During the period when we couldn't do in-person exercise classes I did a lot of cycling on my static bike with an online instructor. She would do one leg drills which would involve focusing on leading with each leg for a certain number of minutes or pedal strokes. I distinctly remember once suddenly feeling as if a connection had been reborn with my left leg and from then on could use it more equally - although not equally. I had a similar experience when I did some physio pretty rigorously for my shoulder - and felt quite angry with the shoulder for not doing what it was told (!). After a couple of weeks at least I suddenly felt the shoulder respond it was a moment by moment change.

Key factors seemed to be persistence and intention (with a bit of angry 'Grrrrr' perhaps...).

[LAJ12345 in reply to Smokeypurple]

Yes, I do think the brain forgets where bits of you are if you don’t use them so it’s good to stimulate sensation in them so it goes, oh, I forgot about you, there you are!

[Smokeypurple]

Yes like 'I haven't got enough dopamine for all of you so I'm going to try and reduce moving a bit of you and hope you don't notice - blast it, you noticed.'!

[LAJ12345 in reply to Smokeypurple]

🤩

[Amstat]

You want strong feet? Practice deadlifts wearing socks, and practice heavy farmers carries.