Comments on: 5 Simple Foot Exercises for Transitioning to Barefoot Shoes

By: samantha

samantha — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 18:52:50 +0000

In reply to Sam. Hi Sam! I'm glad you found what you were looking for.

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 21:08:40 +0000

Hah !!! Please disregard my message. Your Resource section pretty much answered most of my questions.

By: Anya

Anya — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 20:29:47 +0000

In reply to John. I say keep going! And just keep trying to keep your toes flat as you do it. You can also try this exercise to work on intrinsic arch strength (and it clarifies how your toes should look as you do it, you may already be doing a fine job).

By: John

John — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 19:22:50 +0000

I only started looking at my foot health after many years (I’m 67). But I can’t keep my toes from curling when I attempt the doming (short foot) exercise. Should I nonetheless persist with this exercise? It sure seems like my foot intrinsic arch muscles could use the help. I do wear Pdag metatarsal pads in my Vibrobarefoot Primus shoes.

By: Anya

Anya — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 02:28:33 +0000

In reply to Sarah. Could be worth adding a bit of cushion back in to your shoes!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 23:23:19 +0000

In reply to Jane. Thank you for this website, its been a great source of info to me!! Ive transistioned to barefoot shoes with no issues but I seem to have bruised my heels, I just woke up one morning with the pain. Theyve gotten better but still tender where they were not before(been a few weeks). Any tips on exercises or general advice? Hoping I havent done serious damage. Thanks again for all the team's work here

By: Anya

Anya — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 15:46:36 +0000

In reply to Natalie. Hi Natalie - here is an article that specifically addresses bunions, co-written with a podiatrist. It's very similar, but there are some things to think about with a bunion. Best of luck!

By: Natalie

Natalie — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 05:44:40 +0000

Hi,
In the last year I have developed a prominent bunion on my left foot and my heels are very soar when I am active and very stiff when I wake up. I think these exercises will be great in retraining my feet, and then buying the shoes after feet are strengthened, but I haven’t seen bunions addressed. Do I need to do something about them before I start these exercises? Thank you so much for your time with the research and willingness to share to help us all with having an active life into our older years.

By: Anya

Anya — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 16:20:24 +0000

In reply to Cheryl.

Hi Cheryl,
1. I would back off the movement and try to keep your toes straight while you press in, rather than curling them up. You’ll have less force, but it’s more focused on the purpose of the exercise.
2. Go as far in as is comfortable so you get a stretch. Often times when first starting out people can barely get their fingers in there.
3. Yes, it is totally possible! You can hold one down and try to move the other to help your brain out.
4. Yes, you can use a tennis ball. With fascia, when you stretch it by pressing down on the ball after 30 seconds or so you often can actually feel the tissues relax. It’s that moment when you are in a stretch that at first feels tight and then suddenly isn’t anymore. It can take some focus to start noticing this. Dense areas are knots. You often can feel that the tissue is thicker and also more sensitive.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 19:40:46 +0000

Some questions regarding the exercises above which I’ve been doing now for a few weeks. 1. On the Short Foot exercise, when I “press toes into ground” my toes are gripping because they’re curled. So what I’m doing doesn’t look like what your toes look like in the video. Am I supposed to be gripping? 2. On the Toe Spacers exercise, Does it matter how far in my fingers go between the toes? 3. On the Toe-ga exercise, I have one rigid toe (#2) and the one next to it stays with it (which they both do on the other foot, as well). Is it possible that with time that third toe will move on its own? 4. On the Ball exercise, can I use a tennis ball? If not, why not? Also, I don’t understand your statement, “holding foot for release sensation” and “pressing on dense area”. What sensation and what dense areas? Thank you!

By: Anya

Anya — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 02:13:35 +0000

In reply to Louise Sunde. I've not heard of those new ones! I'll check them out

By: Louise Sunde

Louise Sunde — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 12:14:35 +0000

Hi Anya can you do a comparison between Correct Toes and the new Bodyfeet which claim to correct back and hip pain? There’s so many options out there it gets overwhelming. Thank you! Louise Sunde

By: Ana

Ana — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 10:28:13 +0000

Hi Anya, keep ending up on your website and loving all the info whilst in research stage and now ready to take action. Thank you for sharing this and looking forward to getting my feet healthy. Ana, Australia

By: samantha

samantha — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 20:24:12 +0000

In reply to Jane. Hi Jane! Be Lenka/Barebarics has anatomical ankle socks. Feelgrounds does also. You can find our full sock list here.

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 21:40:20 +0000

I’m having difficulty accessing wide toe short ankle socks (not with individual toes). Please advise. Thanks!