When it comes to exercise, most people focus on training their arms and legs but often overlook strengthening their feet. However, the strength and stability of your feet are necessary for proper foot function and support for the entire body. After all, having strong feet provides the foundation for your entire core – and a strong, stable core can help to reduce or prevent pain in many other parts of your body.

Jeffrey Petty DPM, our Corsicana Foot Doctor at Family Foot & Ankle Centers, suggests you follow your own at-home foot-strengthening regimen, with some of the exercises described below:

Corsicana Foot Doctor Says Good Feet Promote Overall Fitness

Strengthen Your Arches

In your bare feet, raise up on your toes and walking around while on the balls of your feet. This type of activity also improves both balance and stability. Initially, you may need to use a wall or chair for balance, or build up your strength more slowly with just repeatedly lifting your heels off the ground.  You can also alternate this exercise by walking on your heels for additional stretching of the calf.

Do These Simple Toe Exercises

Drop a pencil on the floor and use your toes to pick it up. This exercise can be performed standing or seated in a chair. As your toes curl around the pencil, hold for ten seconds, and then repeat 10 times. If a pencil is not available, use a small towel or washcloth that you can easily pick up with your toes.

Build Your Ankle Strength

Your ability to achieve and maintain good balance goes a long way in preventing injury to your foot or other parts of your body. An exercise like leg swings can help strengthen your ankles and promote overall balance. To perform leg swings, stand on one leg and swing the other leg forward and backward 10-12 times. Before switching to the other leg, swing the same leg to the left and right, out in front of your positioned leg. Repeat this set on your opposite leg, and continue alternating between left and right legs.

It is important to begin your foot strengthening exercises slowly. Any new exercise routine can cause the strain or injury you are working hard to avoid. For more information or to schedule an appointment with our Corsicana podiatrist, contact us today at 903-872-9910!

The information provided in this article is not meant to be medical advice and is for educational purposes only. If you would like to learn more about topics related to podiatry, feel free to contact Family Foot & Ankle Centers by clicking here or calling 972-597-4132 to reach our Waxahachie office, 903-872-9910 to reach our Corsicana office, or  972-875-3668 to reach our Ennis office.