Now that the holidays are over, your feet are likely feeling the effects of running around the mall or dancing your way to the new year. Timothy Charlton, M.D., assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at the Keck School of Medicine, recommends a simple exercise to “strengthen and define many of the muscles on the bottom of the foot that support the foot.” Place a pillowcase flat on the floor, about 18 inches in front of you. Put your foot on the closest end of the pillowcase, then curl your toes and “grab” the pillowcase and slide it toward you. Unflex your toes and repeat. Slowly draw the entire pillow case toward you, using only your toes. If foot pain does not go away, Charlton says, consult a physician. But, he says, much of the time, “the proper exercise can help a great deal.”
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