682  Foot Exercices and tango

Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2002 10:36:18 -0700
From: Sergio <cachafaz@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject: Foot Exercices and tango

Charles Roques asks for foot exercises.
Charles I am very glad to know that you are now out of the hospital and
recuperating from your injuries.

Foot exercises are good for anyone not only for those recuperating from
fractures or injuries.
Practicing these simple exercises on a daily basis will strengthen the foot
muscles, preserve the normal arch and also the shape of the toes. This will
in turn allow good locomotion and (hopefully) long hours of trouble free
dancing.

Exercise #1 : Extend both feet. ( extend * from a sitting position send both
feet downward) while keeping the feet pointing down flex the toes (flex*
bring the toes upwards). Next flex the feet (flex * bring the feet up closer
to the legs).
Now the feet are up from this position flex the toes (bend the toes). Next
extend the feet.
Repeat 10 times and increase the number of repetitions slowly up to 30
times.

Exercise #2 : Rotate the feet. Sitting position. Describe a full circle with
both feet. Both feet to the left, then up, thento the right and finally
down. Repeat 10 times and increase the number of repetitions up to 30.

Exercise #3 : Pronation and supination of the feet. Sitting position. Make
the plant of the feet to face each other and then to face away from each
other.

Good foot care requires the use of shoes that do not crowd the toes. The
toes should not rub against any area inside the shoe. This will prevent the
formation of bunions and calluses (corns).

The nails should be cut straight with square corners (not rounded) this will
prevent ingrown toe nails.

There are congenital foot malformations that will not be corrected by
exercises but that may improve somewhat .

I have a long experience in foot care in my practice of diabetology as
patients with diabetes have a tendency to acquire all sorts of foot
problems.
I hope that these exercises will help in your recuperation.

O.Sergio Suppa MD.