Toe Exercises to combat Winter Boot Foot Stiffness
Last week I wrote about the importance of keeping your toes/feet mobile, especially through the winter months. To add some movement and sensory activity back into your feet, try the following:
When inside, take shoes AND socks off and walk barefoot as much as possible. Push each toe into the ground, one at a time, in a controlled manner.
Perform Toe CARs (Controlled Articular Rotations) by moving each toe IN CONTROL through it’s full range of motion (without closing angle pain).
If you have young kids, you probably have toys (or clothes...or something...) lying around on the floor. At least once a week, try picking up some of those objects with your toes (encourage your kids to as well). If you don’t have kids (or, alternatively, anything lying on your floor), try the same, but with socks or any other miscellaneous object.
Closing your eyes, with your feet bare, ground yourself in some type of earth outside (grass, dirt, rocks, etc). Close your eyes and take deep breaths, allowing yourself to sense the earth below your feet.
As this year comes to an end, allow your feet to carry you into 2021 stable yet flexible, dynamic yet still, and connected, but free from anything that no longer serves you.