#AskCorrectToes: Strengthening Intrinsic Foot Muscles

Natural Sports Podiatrist Dr. Ray McClanahan answers @technesoma's question about his favorite ways to strengthen intrinsic foot muscles.

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[MikiDoodleMom]

Wow! Your foot looks like a hand! It looks so correct and healthy!

[basilcanary]

I haven't been wearing my Correct Toes for a while. Laziness, i'm afraid. But seeing your feet right now has just encouraged me to get them out and put them on. Your feet are truly perfect now. I will be doing these exercises too. Thank you for your encouragement. 

[cynthiag]

For several days I've been doing the isometric short foot exercise shown near the end of this video. It's already clear that something is happening to both of my feet. I have some interesting sensations down there. It's not pain, but an awareness in the bottoms of my feet centered in the arches. I think it's a good thing. I've been doing about 50 per foot of the exercise each day. Thanks for posting this video.

[ulyssespayne]

Thank you so very much. I have flat feet and doing your exercises in your videos is helping ..

[HumbledGoat]

I'm very glad to have discovered your channel. I've had sesamoiditis for many years now, constantly coming back. I tried everything, from different kind of shoes to numerous special orthotics costing me around €300, all with no result. I'm very excited to learn about the natural toe alignment. I want to start with a combination of Correct Toes, Injiji socks and Lems minimal boots. Next to that, I'm going to try your foot exercises + walking half an hour every day to gain more strength in my feet. Hopefully this is finally going to do the trick. Thank you very much :)

[onigiriman_]

Thanks for the natural-arch support demonstration, but I enjoyed more how you tossed the hacky sack to the side at the end of the video. My new goal!

[waynedawes]

I have had shin splints since October of last year. Thanks to your sharing of correct toes and proper care of your feet, I am finally starting to heal. I am going to order some Lem shoes so as to continue my return to pain free walking. Thank you for all your time and effort to spread the word on how to look after your feet.

[henryboey]

Hi, I have sesamoiditis for 6 months. Will any of those things you mentioned in the video help?

[rt]

Hello, thank you for this video. I'm wondering if these same exercises are also helpful for morton's neuroma, which I have been diagnosed with at the second intermetatarsal space neuroma measuring 7 mm. Are these exercises recommended for morton's neuroma too? Thank you for all the information you post.

[TheFrankdds]

If our feet are not in correct perfect alignment yet, i.e. hammer toes and bunions, but we are currently utilizing the correct toes, should we not perform any of these strengthening exercises until they are in perfect alignment? much appreciated.

[ShiZo]

What is the ball filled with? I'm trying to get one similar.

[alicek]

If there is a muscle imbalance resulting in claw toes, will strengthening the plantar intrinsic muscles make the condition worse? If so, then what muscles should you strengthen to help improve muscle balance and avoid claw toes? Thanks.

[vivettemartin]

Is it ok to do these exercises with a toe separator?

[marychambless]

Doc, are you a Yogi ? Can yin yoga help Halllux Rigidus?

[KezDPianist]

What ball is that? Hacky size ball? Thanks

[devonshale]

I've never seen a foot this flexible and "hand like" before.

[unthethered]

Is Dr. Calalhan available for zoom consults? I left a msg at the clinic. thank you.

[customasmrbyx]

Is there any other way to check if your feet are in proper alignment before performing these exercises other than your toes?

[merafkebede]

Thank you for these exercises! Do you suggest wearing correct toes when doing Yoga? The balance poses are supposed to help with strengthening the arches so I was trying to see if it would be better to do them with or without the correct toes to maximize the benefits. Thanks in advance!

[johnatyoutube]

Did you always have that amount of toe splay or did you develop it over time? If so, how long did it take? It's quite fantastic!

It also looks a little alien to me because, like most of us, I've been culturally programmed to find a narrow foot attractive. I discovered the barefoot movement earlier this year and am now only wearing minimalist shoes. But no matter how much I go barefoot and wear toe spreaders, my toes won't do that. But I am building strength and balance and proper foot-leg-hip alignment.

Thanks for your wonderful channel and product!