The Toe Waving Exercise, Part 2

In part one of this series, we talked about the importance of the short flexors of the toes (FDB or flexor digitorum brevis) in forming and maintaining the foot tripod. In this installment, we discuss another important muscle used in this exercise,  the extensor digitorum longus (EDL).

We have shown you time and time again, dominance of the long flexors in gait, which cause biomechanical imbalances. We remember that through reciprocal inhibition, the log flexors will reciprocally inhibit the long extensors, so increased activity in the former, means decreased activity and activation in the latter.

The balanced activity of the long flexors and long extensors helps to create harmony during gait. Working the long extensors with this exercise (along with others, like tripod standing, toes up walking and the shuffle gait exercises) helps one to achieve this balance.

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