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Foot Stretch
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Stretch It: Shin and Ankle Stretch
After long bike rides, my shins and the tops of my feet are often tight. All that flexing of my ankle and pulling up on the pedals to maximize my stroke takes its toll on this part of my body. Once I slip off my stiff cycling shoes, this is the first stretch I do.
Stretch It: Towel Foot Stretch
If you think about it, your feet take a lot of beating, from pounding the ground when running, to walking all over the city, to wearing high heels. They carry the weight of our entire bodies, so take time to give them some TLC. This stretch will target the muscle in the soles of your feet, but will also stretch your calves.
Home Work: Toe Breaker Tricep Stretch
If you are a runner, I'm sure your feet could use a little TLC. I like to stretch my feet with this stretch intimidatingly called the Toe Breaker because it can feel really intense on your toes. Pain and discomfort aside, this is an awesome stretch for the muscles in the soles of your feet.
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Injury Prevention: Flexible Feet to Avoid Plantar Fasciitis
Runners, walkers, bikers, and hikers rely heavily on their feet. Feet allow us to do the things we love, but all that stepping, jumping, and pounding can cause damage to the plantar fascia. It's a thick band of tissue that covers and protects the bones on the bottom of your feet.
Stretch It: Iliotibial Band and Outer Thigh
Running can take its toll on your knees and having tight muscles and soft tissue around the very important knee joint can increase the toll we runners pay. That is why stretching is so very important.
This stretch targets the iliotibial band (ITB), the thick band of fascia that runs down the outside of the thigh, and it is important because when the ITB gets tight it can pull the knee cap out of alignment causing all sorts of pain.
How to Avoid Foot Pain Caused by Running
According to the website Cool Running your feet pound the ground some 800 times when running just a mile. That's a lot of pounding!!! So you want to be sure to take care of your feet, especially if you are new to running.
Stretch It: Twisting Hip Flexor Stretch
A common complaint among runners and cyclists is tight hip flexors, the area in front of the hips above the quads. Here's one of my favorite ways to lengthen that area, while also getting a subtle spinal twist — two great stretches in one!
To learn how to get into this stretch, read more
Strike a Yoga Pose: Head to Knee A
Looking to loosen up inflexible hips and hamstrings? Here's a yoga pose that's a popular stretch among runners because it'll target the oh-so-tight backs of the legs.
Sanskrit Name: Janu Sirsasana A
English Translation: Head to Knee Pose A
Also Called: Flag
To learn how to do this forward bend variation read more
Strike a Yoga Pose: Intense Side Stretch
For all you runners and bikers with tight hamstrings, this is the pose for you. It's one of my favorite stretches to target the backs of the legs, but it'll also give you a nice stretch on the sides of your body, as well as your chest and shoulders.
Sanskrit Name: Parsvottanasana
English Translation: Intense Side Stretch Pose
Also Called: Scissor
To learn how to do this pose read more
60 Seconds to a Healthier You
It is more than just your time at the gym that makes you healthy; it is the simple everyday acts that take mere seconds to complete that add up to healthy lifestyle. I believe in starting at the bottom and working my way up, and that means taking care of my feet and toes. If your shoes pinch your toes, like many fashionable pointy toed shoes do, the blood supply to your toes is compromised.
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