After a productive day at work, it’s time to grab your workout bag and head to the gym. You’ve been working out for years and love it, but things are starting to plateau or even breakdown. You wonder, “what’s holding me back? I feel like I can do more.” Our answer to this is simple; let us explain.
About twenty-five percent of the bones in your body are located in your feet. If any of these bones are misaligned, your entire body could be affected: knees, hips and lower back. By incorporating Correct Toes into your workout – along with shoes that are flat, flexible and widest at the ends of the toes – you can avoid injuries and combat misalignment by promoting proper balance. Think of a car; improper tire alignment can cause your tires to wear unevenly and prematurely, which directly affects vehicle performance and durability. It’s the same with your body. In an award-winning study by Adam Kelly, ATC, he proved that Correct Toes, along with proper footwear, improves balance during everyday activity.
If your toes are not properly spaced and grasping the ground, your legs and upper body are forced compensate and our stability is less compromised. Being stable and having correct posture can help maximize any workout. It decreases the potential for muscle imbalances and allows the proper muscles to engage with specific exercises. With the presence of Correct Toes, your feet are less likely to over-pronate because your big toe is in proper alignment, providing a wider base of support. If exercises like squatting are being done with over-pronating feet, you run the risk of injuring your ankles, knees and/or back, and can negatively affect form which can decrease your strength and endurance.
When your toes are spread and pressed into the ground the body is capable of generating more power and energy. Therefore, when participating in exercises such as kettlebell swings, box jumps or deadlifts you can take full advantage of the workout. Focusing on the fundamentals can set you up for noticeable progress and fortify the intrinsic muscles. Strengthening the intrinsic (arch) muscles is key and helps increase balance, muscle volume and overall athletic performance. In addition, strong arch muscles can help with many common foot problems such as plantar fascia pain and improper alignment in the 1st and 5th toe joints, which result in bunions.
We all know that working out has a profound impact on both your mental and physical health. This means, staying active and taking your workouts to the next level is important. We encourage you to be ambitious with your progress and use Correct Toes to help you get over the hump. Have a question or want to keep the conversation going? Use the hashtag #CTgym and tag us. We’ll be sure to get back to you. Also, check out this great video on workouts you can do at home with your Correct Toes!
