Re: useful exercise to improve feet muscle and legs

[Guest guest]

Did he explain which muscles would benefit from this exercise?

> Use the toes (all the five toes) to grab the floor whenever you like to do

------- I do this kind of exercise almost all the time when I remember to do it.

>

[Guest guest]

Maybe, but I didn't pay attention to that kind of details when the therapist

told me. I guess it would be the muscles under the sole and muscles behind the

legs----based on my own experiment.

Caroline

[Guest guest]

I've tried this. It seems to work ankle muscles, and also calf muscle slightly,

not the peroneal muscle in which atrophy causes footdrop. For toewalkers, this

would be counterproductive, since it would only augment being on the

forefront/toes of the feet and adding aggravation to already tightened or

atrophied muscles.

Gretchen

[Guest guest]

Hi, Gretchen,

Thank you very much for sharing your experience.

My logic is that ----

Since now we can't do anything to improve the peroneal muscle in which

atrophy causes footdrop, we can at least try to do exercises to improve the

muscles that are still possibly strengthened, that is, the muscles related to

the toes. If we don't do exercises to improve the muscles related to the toes,

what muscles are we able to

keep?

Am I right???

Caroline

On Fri, Jun 5, 2009 at 9:43 AM, gfijig <gfijig@...> wrote:

>

>

> I've tried this. It seems to work ankle muscles, and also calf muscle

> slightly, not the peroneal muscle in which atrophy causes footdrop. For

> toewalkers, this would be counterproductive, since it would only augment

> being on the forefront/toes of the feet and adding aggravation to already

> tightened or atrophied muscles.

>

> Gretchen

>

>

>

--

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can't change. Courage to

change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.

[Guest guest]

Caroline,

We are each different in the extent of CMT atrophy. In my experience, since I

have hammertoes and am by nature a toe walker, anything that can strengthen my

foot muscles (not toes) helps make my legs stronger. This includes my peroneal

muscle, which has help from surrounding muscles from aquatic exercise, and beach

walking among others. Atrophy of the peroneal muscle is what causes foot drop.

Therefore anything that can strengthen the peroneal muscle and surrounding

muscles, plus ankle " circles " (sit in chair, outstretch leg, move ankle

clockwise 5 circles, then counterclockwise 5 circles, then other leg) This can

also be done in a pool. This will help the ankle muscles also, if not already

atrophied. Also while sitting in a chair, leg outstretched, simply push ankle

down, then bring up. This all works for me.

Gretchen