Stretch of the Week: Toe Spread Stretch

September’s stretch of the week will focus on an area that many of us neglect – our feet.

If you can bare weight on your feet that means they are holding up your entire body, which can be very stressful for them! Many of us don’t give our feet enough attention, and then we wonder why we have so many problems with them as we age. This month will focus on stretches to wake up and strengthen the feet.

The first stretch we are covering is called the Toe Spread Stretch. In my experience as a massage therapist and yoga teacher, this can be a very challenging movement for a good portion of the population. Most people lack the strength in the foot to simply spread all ten toes. It’s a great stretch as well as a strengthener! It’s also a very good place to start when addressing the foot.

As always, prior to beginning any exercise program it is recommended to consult with your physician, physical or occupational therapist to determine which exercises are best for you. You also should not perform this stretch if you are nursing a serious foot injury.

How to perform:

1. This stretch can be done seated or standing. This is a simple stretch that requires you to spread your toes as wide as they will go. That’s it! Attempt to get space between each toe. Hold for a count of five and then relax. Repeat 5-10 times.

If this is a difficult movement for you to perform, try to do it three times a day to strengthen and stretch your foot!

Questions? Email me at rachel.lackowski@athletico.com

The Athletico blog is an educational resource written by Athletico employees. Athletico bloggers are licensed professionals who abide by the code of ethics outlined by their respective professional associations. The content published in blog posts represents the opinion of the individual author based on their expertise and experience. The content provided in this blog is for informational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice and should not be relied on for making personal health decisions.