How to Realign Your Toes and Relieve Tightness in Your Feet

Foot health equals whole-body health and, unfortunately, the design of many modern shoes doesn't support the health of our feet.

When the alignment of your foot is altered by a narrow and/or lifted toe box, or a lifted heel (which includes the padded heels found in many running shoes) it’s going to impact the way the rest of your body functions.

You may not realize it, but if you’ve been wearing shoes the majority of your life, your foot has probably taken on the shape of the shoes you wear.

When we’re kids, before we ever wear our first shoes, our toes, especially the big toes, are spread apart. It’s the angle of the big toe toward the mid-line of our body that actually helps to create the ideal natural arches of our feet.

Without this angle formed by the proper alignment of the big toe, the other bones of the feet are more likely to collapse, creating “flat” feet and pronated ankles.

Bunions can also result from shoes pushing the big toe off the mid-line.

Today’s exercise will help you discover if you have tightness in your toes and feet, and show you two effective tools to help you release your feet and begin to realign your toes.

If you try it  out, I’d love to hear how it goes in the comments below!

See you in the studio!

Sydney

P.S. – In the video I mention that I go strictly barefoot, or wear minimal shoes, whenever possible. It's important to note that if you've been wearing regular shoes, it's a process that requires specific exercises in order to transition from standard footwear to minimal footwear.

Picture of Sydney

Sydney

I’m here to help you get stronger and more flexible through alignment-based restorative exercise so you can enjoy all the activities you love in life. You can work with me in two convenient ways: digitally through the Pilates Tonic Online membership or personally with in-person Restorative Movement Sessions.

10 Responses

  1. Thanks as always Sydney. Your videos are quick, comprehensive and fun, imparting lots of good information that is so very helpful. I’m grateful.
    Laura

  2. Hi Sydney, do you have any experience with “stretched out” feet? The doctors keep telling me that it’s surgery or nothing. I need help, thanks Jessica

    1. Hi Amanda, thanks for your interest in this post. I’m not showing any issues with the video playing on this end. Have you tried updating your web browser or using a different one? That usually does this trick.

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