Fix Your Feet With These 3 Exercises

Posted on March 31, 2017 Written by Becky

Your feet and ankles are your mode of transportation with hiking and it’s especially important to take care of them when racking up the kilometers. But honestly you don’t have to be an experienced hiker for this week’s video as these three stretches are ones that everyone should add into their day for happy feet.

With 26 bones, 33 joints and over 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments the foot is a complex structure which supports, stabilizes and mobilizes the entire body. To walk efficiently and reduce the risk of injury our feet and ankles need to have optimal mobility and strength. Most people have tight calf muscles whether they realize it or not. With hiking the calf muscles is working extra hard on steep inclines but a lot of tightness also comes from wearing shoes with a heel and/or sitting for prolonged periods. In the video I demonstrate three exercises that work to lengthen the calf muscles, reduce tension between the shin and the foot and mobilize the bones between the feet. These exercises are part of Biomechanist, Katy Bowman’s alignment toolbox and I highly recommended checking out her book Move Your DNA for more alignment tips and how to increase movement into your day.

Check out the video to see how to properly perform each exercise and how they can benefit you.