Piano Toes

Instructions

1. Sit or stand with your foot flat on the floor.

2. Keep your heel down and your ankle as still as possible.

3. Lift one toe at a time or lower one toe at a time in sequence, depending on how the exercise was prescribed.

4. Think of making a wave through the toes from the big toe to the little toe, or from the little toe to the big toe.

Common Compensations

• Do not let your heel lift off the ground.

• Do not let your ankle roll inward or outward.

• Do not curl all of the toes together if the goal is to move them one at a time.

• Do not grip the floor excessively.

• Do not rush the wave pattern.

• Do not get frustrated if the movement feels small or difficult at first.

Extra Info

• You should feel this mostly in the small muscles of the foot and around the toes.

• You may also feel the arch working to help stabilize the foot.

• This exercise is meant to improve toe coordination and foot control.

• It is normal if the toes do not move smoothly at first.

• You should not feel sharp pain in the toes, foot, or arch.