Pin and stretch techniques for the foot and calf

The foot is our first contact with the environment , it communicates information to the brain about changes on the ground and allows us to maintain balance . A healthy foot should be flexible and mobile which allows maximum contact with the ground and maximum stimulation of all nerves .

Feet that are inhibited by tight shoes loose the ability to extend and this creates problems higher up the chain .The extensors become down regulated ( hamstrings , glutes ) and the hip flexors ( quads , psoas ) become even more dominant and toned feeding the flex-ion dominant pattern that is so common in humans today .

We need to encourage our clients to go barefoot more often and become  aware of their feet . look at your feet now and try to spread them wide , flex and extend them , move one at a time . Some folk will not be able to do these simple movements .

Be very carefull about telling clients to go barefoot , like most things in life moderation is a safe bet . For feet that are not used to going bare it can be damaging to go unshod for long periods so short periods of going  barefoot  are sensible .

ONE LAST THING TO REMEMBER !

A healthy foot needs strong hips to support it . When folk pronate and display a collapsed arch it is a sign of a weak hip  that cannot control femoral and tibial rotation .

Human Locomotion: The Conservative Management of Gait Related Disorders ( Dr Thomas Michaud ) from amazon .

If you want to really get some fantastic insight into the foot get this book .