Educational Articles: Exercises & Stretches

In this informative video, Dr. Ray McClanahan—a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes—discusses (and demonstrates!) a helpful manual technique for stretching and releasing the soft tissues associated with a bunion deformity. This technique can be used by healthcare providers for their patients, or it can be used by patients as a self-care technique at home. Here’s a quote from Dr. Ray... Read more

Using Correct Toes in combination with men's and women's foot-healthy footwear is one of the best strategies to help reverse or prevent bunions, but what else can you do in terms of tactics, techniques, and exercises to assist this process? This video takes a closer look at exactly this question and includes the following demonstrations: 1. How to manually straighten the big toe; 2. How to... Read more

Active seniors can perform key strength and balance exercises using Correct Toes to help create a stable support base and ensure proper alignment throughout the ankle, knee, and hip joints. The exercises demonstrated in this video are all beginner exercises that can be modified for varying fitness levels. Exercises that can be performed by active seniors include: 1. Hip Bridge; 2. Squat to Chair; 3. Step... Read more

What if there was a way to reduce your chances of knee osteoarthritis and numerous foot and ankle problems? What if this approach was simple, logical, and cost-effective? What if it could address a wide variety of conditions, from joint pain to bunions to neuromas to ingrown toenails, as well as prevent these conditions from occurring? What if the philosophy was completely rational, as well as being... Read more

Correct Toes is a potent foot health tool that can be used when performing certain key strengthening exercises to help enhance balance and foot stability. Having a strong, stable base of support can allow you to perform these exercises with proper alignment in the ankle, knee, and hip joints and generate more power throughout your whole body. The strengthening exercises demonstrated in this video include: 1.... Read more

There are many common causes of foot pain, especially in runners—plantar fascia problems, sesamoiditis (irritation of small bones under the base of the big toe), heel spurs, and Achilles tendinosis among them. Ingrown toenails and bunions may also cause foot pain. Fractures and other traumatic injuries can cause foot pain, too. The exercises described below may help rehabilitate your foot, improve its function, and reduce pain, especially... Read more

You’re a contemporary fashionista who dresses to impress. You faithfully don your high heels to conform to business dress standards, impress your employees, boss, or coworkers, and look fierce, maybe even sexy. You’re aware that wearing your fashionable heels may result in painful footsteps, but, well, you’re willing to squeeze them on for the sake of good looks. If this description mirrors your experience and thoughts, you... Read more

Your body functions best when it's mobile and strong, and your foot is no exception! The arch intrinsic muscles of your foot—the muscles that support your main foot arch, your medial longitudinal arch—can be trained and strengthened, just like any other skeletal muscle in your body, which can be very helpful in building strong, healthy feet and preventing common foot problems. This video demonstrates how to... Read more

In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, demonstrates a two-part stretch that can be used to help rehabilitate hammertoes and restore toe alignment. Hammertoes are caused by an imbalance between toe flexor and extensor tendons. The stretches shown in this video help restore tendon balance and realign the toes to the position that nature... Read more

This insightful video offers several simple and effective techniques you can perform to keep your feet healthy while you're at work. These techniques include going barefoot in your office as often as possible, bringing flats or sandals into your workplace, keeping some foot massage tools under your desk, and performing the Big Toe Stretch and Toe Extensor Stretch as well as other exercises that help strengthen the intrinsic... Read more