Toes, Toes Toes !!! 🦶💪👣 and how footwear changes their function.

Fashion has alot to answer for ! 

We have been stuffing our tootsies into ill fitting shoes - and marketing them as Good for your feet or Podiatry/ Physio  endorsed . 

The fact is -  We need ALL our toes - especially the 1st one - to be able to spread before heel strike - AND THIS IS A NORMAL PHYSIOLOGICAL PART OF LATE SWING PHASE - to assit with shock absorption.

That is what our foot is - Our body's shock absorber. This is where I have an issue with tapered shoes, and shoe companies promoting wide fitting shoes , even though they taper the Toe Box.

The Foot should look like this at midstance 👇👇

The consequences of not allowing the toes to spread include: 

• Decreased balance and stability
• Tailors bunion
• Hallux abducto Valgus
• Hypertonic extensiors, flexors , interossei and quadratus plantaris
• Lateral foot issues
• Nerve compression at the 2-3 plantar web area
• Dorsal pain on the 1st MPJ
• Abductor Hallucius issues
• Ingrown toenails - especially the medial side of the 1st Toe
• Callous formation, 5th MPJ, I/D toes, IPJ 1st Phalanx and medial aspect 1st MPJ
• Neuropathy accross the forefoot -  numbness or pain.
• Metatarsaligia issues

The 1st Phalanx needs to be straight and pushed through toe off with even distribution on the planatar surface , it needs to function like this to promote - Glute firing and posterior tilt of the pelvis into hip extension. 

So as you can see, it is IMPERATIVE that we look diferently at our footwear - and start to put our clients into naturally toe shaped shoes, as you can address so many issues just by changing the shape of their footwear ! It takes 10000 hours of the same repetative movement for the brain to normalize it ( just like learning how to brush your teeth with your opposite hand - but automatic ) For the foot nerds out there - the subcortical part of the CNS . 

Of course exercises to undo the damage caused by shoes is a must . 

So if you want to become more confident in your treatment & prevention of bunions aka Hallux Abducto Valgus ? 👇

👣 Here's your chance !

Download this FREE exclusive neurological - motor control exercise and let the 🧠💪 Brain do the gain .

This is not just another exercise , this uses predetermined motor control patterns to straighten the Big Toe that is easy for your clients to do in their normal daily activities which may improve their compliance.

It’s an invaluable exercise for clinicians looking to stay ahead of the curve.

Download this new exercise that you need to give to your clients first & foremost 👉
https://www.thestabilisationacademy.com/foundation-foot-and-ankle-lp-1-511a55f1-aeca-4a0d-8e15-6871fe5217ce