What are beneficial exercises for the foot?

Exercises for the foot can range from resistance exercise for the toes using the ranges of motion of flexion and extension as well as splaying and “scrunching” the toes. Most often when people as questions about exercise for the foot, they are referring to exercises for the ankle. This is common because when the ankle moves, the foot moves as well so strengthening of the ankle is what is wanted or needed. To strengthen the foot/ankle, it is important to understand that the ankle can move in four different ranges of motion. Plantar flexion (pointing the toes), dorsiflexion (bringing the toes towards the shin bone), inversion (rolling the ankle to the outside) and eversion (rolling the ankle to the inside) are the primary ranges of the ankle joint.

Another range of motion that appears to be the foot but is actually the articulation between the fibula and tibia is internal and external rotation of the lower leg. Resistance exercises in these 6 ranges of motion although are not specifically for the foot, will affect or improve the function of the foot and ankle complex.