50% of the runners that visit us at RunMechanics have foot stability issues. The percentage skews further especially with beginners. Jay Dicharry, a biomechanical expert, believes the big toe is responsible for 80-85% of …
By Team RunMechanics●27 October 2021●1 min read
Toe Yoga — cover image.
Toe Yoga/img/workouts/toeyoga.jpgToe YogaTeam RunMechanics27 Oct 2021workout
50% of the runners that visit us at RunMechanics have foot stability issues. The percentage skews further especially with beginners. Jay Dicharry, a biomechanical expert, believes the big toe is responsible for 80-85% of the stability of the foot. Ability to control the big toe independently from the rest of the foot (arch & ankle) is key to maintain foot stability. Toe Yoga is a workout to build this control.
How to do it?
Start with standing in a neutral position with both feet on the ground; toes pointing straight.
Focus on one foot at a time, and the other foot can be relaxed.
Raise the big toe as high as possible (See A in the picture above), while keeping the four little toes fully on the ground. Hold it for couple of seconds.
Then drive the big toe down strongly (keep the big toe straight without curling it), while simultaneously raising the four little toes up from the ground (See B in the picture above).
Ensure your arch is not collapsed and maintained high while driving the big toe down.
Repeat this 10 times on each side
When to do it?
If you have foot stability issues and/or overpronation, we recommend this is done as part of your mobility routine.
