Big toe lifts

By putting our feet in shoes for most of our lives, the muscles in our feet that move the toes become underused and we lose movement in our feet and toes.

Here’s an exercise to encourage your big toe to move separately from the other toes. Stand in parallel with the weight on your heels and lift just the right big toe. If there’s no movement and you find it really difficult, wrap a band around the big toe to help it to lift and press it down against the band’s resistance. With practice you should be able to do the toe lifts without the band soon.

The big toe is important for walking. It should be the last part of your foot to leave the ground before you take the next step.

Give it a go. I hope you find it helpful.