MD Podiatrist Recommends Towel Stretch to Flex and Relax Foot Muscles

According to Dan Michaels, DPM, the toe towel crunch is one of the most effective stretches you can do because it helps with the tiny muscles of the feet. “Put some type of washcloth or bathcloth on the floor and then use your toes to try to pick it up,” says Dr. Michaels.  “Physical therapists will actually make you try to pick up marbles with your toes and try to move them side-to-side, but I don’t think I would be able to do that. So, instead, I recommend you put a little terry cloth or washcloth on the floor and try to scrunch the toes or pull the toes up to try to pick that up. You’ll be flexing the ankle up and down and moving the ankle round and round and then scrunching the toes to pick things up.”

“As far as stretching goes, there are not too many that you can do,” says Dr. Michaels. “We talk about pointing and flexing your ankle— so point your foot down and then flex your ankle up—and you can also rotate the ankle round and round.”