Make sure to keep the toes flat and straight avoid curling the toes. Actively pull the big toe joint towards the heel shortening the foot. Slowly lower toes down to the ground while contracting the muscles in the arch to maintain a higher arch. The action of lifting toes results in a rising of the arch of the foot. Lift toes off the ground, keep ball of feet on the ground.
Sit with feet flat on ground, shoulder width apart. The conclusion was the short foot exercise engages the intrinsic foot muscles to a greater degree than the toe curl exercise (Jung, DY 2011).ĭescription of “Short Foot” exercise for strengthening intrinsic foot muscles: In order to see video examples of the two types of exercise search for “toe curl exercises” and then search for “short foot exercise”.Ī recent investigation using a measure of the electrical activity (electromyogram) of intrinsic foot muscles versus extrinsic foot muscles compared the toe curl exercise against the short foot exercise. A Czech Neurologist Vladimir Janda proposed a different exercise he called the “short foot exercise” to strengthen the intrinsic foot muscles. The traditional exercise which is thought to strengthen the intrinsic foot muscles is “toe curls” using toes to gather a towel, picking up pencils, or marbles.
Intrinsic foot muscles are used in controlling motion of the foot (pronation and supination) supporting the foot (arch support) fine tuning balance and stability and providing stiff lever to facilitate propulsion.Īpplying kinesiological principals of manual muscle testing clinicians purport to be able to differentiate movement occurring primarily as a result of intrinsic foot muscle activity from extrinsic foot muscle activity. However the intrinsic foot muscles still have an important role to play. The degree to which fine motor activity is needed in the feet is much less compared to the hand. Muscles intrinsic to the hand are responsible for fine motor activity such as typing, writing with pencil, and manipulating objects. Muscles intrinsic to the foot are analogous to muscles intrinsic to the hand. Having strong intrinsic foot muscles is important. Intrinsic motions move one portion of the foot relative to other foot joints.
Intrinsic foot muscles have both attachments inside the foot. Extrinsic foot muscles move the ankle and the foot. Extrinsic foot muscles have one attachment in the foot and the other attachment extrinsic to the foot up in the leg. Muscles about the foot and ankle are described as either extrinsic muscles or intrinsic muscles. Toe curl or toe scrunching exercises is not appropriate for strengthening the muscles intrinsic to the feet. Exercises to strengthen the foot are frequently used to treat injuries to foot, ankle, knee, hip and low back.