Hello,
I have problems with my feet especially with my toes.My question : Can the Gokhale Method help getting my toes straight again.I have this condition for nearly 15years now and everything I tried failed.I attached a photo,maybe you can imagine my problem better with it.
Thank you.
3 years 2 months ago
12/15/2010 - 7:51am
Hi there,
Incorporating your feet into your walk will be most beneficial for strengthening and defining your arches. Your toes curl right now and eventually they can straighten with time. Try some of the foot exercises on pages 211-212 in our book, 8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back. Especially in the "Inchworm" exercise, try and focus on those toes. Practice slowly, with just one foot at a time. Press the pads of the toes down as your foot inches forward, shortening and lifting the arches, but lengthening and straightening the toes (as much as you can).
Also, when standing, you may want to start thinking about placing your weight more to the heels and the outside of the foot. This can take some pressure off of your toes, the big toes especially. Strengthening your tibialis anterior will likely be useful to you as well. Page 214 has a nice exercise for this.
As your feet strengthen and your toes lengthen, you will begin to use your feet more actively when you walk.
Good luck to you!
Warmly,
Charlene Hannibal
Gokhale Method Teacher, Palo Alto/San Francisco