Toe Handshake

Toe handshake

The toe handshake is a simple yet effective foot mobility exercise designed to improve flexibility and maintain proper toe alignment. By using your fingers as spacers to passively splay your toes, this drill promotes better foot health and mobility. It helps alleviate discomfort from tight or overlapping toes, making it especially beneficial for those who spend long hours on their feet or wear tight-fitting footwear.

This exercise targets intrinsic foot muscles, improving circulation, reducing muscle tension, and promoting proper toe alignment. By regularly incorporating the toe handshake into your foot maintenance routine, you’ll increase toe flexibility, enhance balance, and support overall foot stability. Whether you’re an athlete looking to refine your gait or someone seeking relief from discomfort due to poor footwear choices, this drill offers a gentle yet effective way to improve foot mobility. It’s a versatile addition to any fitness or recovery regimen, supporting long-term foot health and mobility.

Equipment Needed

Open floor or yoga mat

Instructions for the toe handshake:

  1. Cross one leg over the other
  2. Interlock your toes with your fingers from the opposite hand
  3. Rotate your ankle in large circles using both the muscles of your lower leg and your hand to move 
  4. Move in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions

Common Error

This may feel uncomfortable at first but stick with it. The most common error with this one is not completing it.

toe handshake Progressions / Regressions:

If this is too challenging:

  • N/A

If you want more of a challenge:

  • N/A

 

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