Thread: Wood working or timber quiz 06/05/04

Originally posted by silentC
Tonz, I find it hard to represent anything other than high or low values with my toes, can you recommend any exercises?

Well, seeing as you asked...

The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society recommends the following exercises to help strengthen toes and prevent foot discomfort. Dancers, runners, and, frankly, all shoe wearers will benefit from these simple exercises.

1. Toe Raise, Toe Point, Toe Curl Hold each position for five seconds and repeat ten times. Recommended for people with hammertoes or toe cramps.

2. Toe Squeeze Place small corks or toe guards between toes and squeeze for five seconds. Repeat ten times. Recommended for people with hammertoes or toe cramps.

3. Big-Toe Pulls Place a thick rubber band around big toes and pull the big toes away from each other and toward the small toes. Hold for five seconds and repeat ten times. Recommended if you have bunions or toe cramps.

4. Toe Pulls Put a thick rubber band around all your toes and spread them. Hold this position for five seconds and repeat ten times. Especially good if you have bunions, hammertoes, or toe cramps.

5. The Golf Ball Roll Roll a golf ball under the ball of your foot for two minutes. This is a great massage for the bottom of the foot and is recommended for people with arch strain or foot cramps.

6. Sand Walking Any chance you get, take off your shoes and walk in the sand at the beach. This not only massages your feet but strengthens your toes. Watch out for glass! Good for general foot conditioning.

7. Marble Pickup Place 20 marbles on the floor. Pick up one marble at a time and put it in a small bowl. Do this exercise until you have picked up all 20 marbles. Recommended for people with pain in the ball of the foot, hammertoes, or toe cramps.