5 foot exercises for better balance and mobility
What's the story
Balance and mobility are essential for everyday tasks and become even more critical as we age.
Foot exercises can help improve balance and mobility by strengthening muscles, increasing flexibility, and enhancing coordination.
By incorporating simple foot exercises into your routine, you can prevent falls and improve overall stability.
Want to know which foot exercises are most beneficial for balance and mobility? Read on!
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Toe raises for strength
Toe raises help to strengthen the muscles in your feet and calves.
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, slowly raise your heels until you are standing on your toes, hold the position for a few seconds, and then lower your heels back to the ground.
Do 10 to 15 repetitions.
Strong muscles are important for keeping your balance while you do different activities.
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Heel-to-toe walks for coordination
Heel-to-toe walks improve coordination by targeting your balance system.
Start by standing tall with one foot directly in front of the other, aligning the heel of one foot with the toes of the other.
Progress forward slowly in this alignment, concentrating on maintaining a straight line.
Do this exercise for 20 steps or so to enhance coordination skills.
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Ankle circles for flexibility
Ankle circles are a deceptively simple exercise that can significantly improve flexibility around the ankle joint.
To do this exercise, sit down and extend one leg out in front of you.
Start by rotating your ankle clockwise for 10 repetitions, then switch to counterclockwise rotations for another set of 10.
This exercise helps increase the range of motion in your ankles, which is key for enhancing mobility during activities like walking or running.
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Towel scrunches to enhance grip strength
Towel scrunches exercise the tiny muscles in your feet that improve grip strength.
This is essential for doing things like walking or climbing stairs safely without slipping.
If we don't do these kinds of movements regularly, we lose the ability to grip properly, and that's why slips happen so often.