In yesterday NY Times, this article caught my eye, of course!! Please read this if you suffer from any foot pain…
Here was my response:
Dear Editor;
It is always very surprising to me when articles and topics are written such as yesterday’s “foot pain” article, as if it is breaking news and readers may finally take care of something, such as their feet after reading it in the NY Times. I am thrilled that this article was printed! I have been trying to address the feet for over ten years with my clients. I am a trained dancer, Pilates studio owner and instruct thirty hours a week. As traditional Pilates goes, it begins at the feet with an exercise on the Reformer called, “Foot work”. One wraps the upper metatarsals around the “foot-bar” and drops the heels down; this stretches the achilles tendon, calf muscles and the front muscle of the shin (tibiallus). Both are preventive ways to address foot problems discussed in yesterdays article. Plantar fasciatus, which is prevented and heeled in most cases by stretching the calf muscles. I also work with thera-bands for ankle and foot strength and an exercise called, “doming”, which is done with bare feet planted on the floor and creating a dome-like shape with all five metatarsals. I also recommend reflexology, foot circles and stretching after all activity to keep the muscles and tendons from tightening up.
I know Pilates became trendy but it is by far a trend. I opened my studio seventeen years ago and have been booked solidly since because Pilates works! These exercises have relieved and prevented many minor injuries in the feet. Pilates also relieves most minor lower back pain, another topic so popular that could also be prevented greatly with a few stretching and strengthening exercises.
Do Pilates! It works!
