Often, our feet are the forgotten heroes of our body. Nestled away from our hands and head, we tend to overlook them until something drastic happens. Today, I want to share a deeply personal story that underscores the crucial importance of plantar flexion, or the ability to point your toes towards the floor.
It was an unusually cold, rainy January winter day in upstate NY. My 72-year-old mother, just back from errands, was about to indulge in a hot cup of tea. But first, she decided to step outside to fetch the newspaper.
That single step irrevocably changed her life.
A treacherous patch of black ice lurked on the steps. In an instant, she slipped, fell, and lay helpless in the freezing cold, without a jacket or a phone to summon help. Twenty agonizing minutes later, my father happened upon the scene during a rare mid-day break from work.
Rushed to the emergency room, the doctors concluded that my mother had shattered her knee replacement, broken her thigh bone and her wrist, and severely injured her foot and ankle. She required immediate surgery, an hour away from home.
After spending a week in the hospital, she returned home where I arrived to assist with her daily care. Despite the surgeons' assurances that her persistently swollen, bruised ankle was part of the healing process, something didn't feel right.
During a routine visit to her General Practitioner, we voiced our concerns. The nurse practitioner promptly ordered a blood test, which revealed a post-surgery blood clot in her ankle. We were simultaneously relieved and enraged; relieved to have caught the problem in time, but enraged at the surgeon's negligence.
The pain from the accident disrupted my mother's sleep and made even the smallest movements agonizing. Without the ability to plantar flex, my mother lost her independence. She couldn't walk, couldn't drive, couldn't do anything without assistance. It was heart-wrenching to witness.
Through weekly physical therapy, she gradually regained the ability to plantar flex. This challenging journey not only tested her physical strength, but also took a toll on her spirit. The ordeal drove home a powerful lesson about the crucial role our feet play in our everyday lives.
Plantar flexion is a simple movement - your toes pointing towards the floor. Yet, it's vital for propelling our body forward while walking, maintaining balance, improve ability to run, enhancing jump performance, and even pressing the gas pedal of your car.
Moreover, practicing plantar flexion exercises can help keep your ankles mobile, reduce pain and muscle soreness, strengthen your feet, and enhance overall foot health.
It's time to stop neglecting our feet. My mother's experience was a painful reminder of the consequences. Watch my demo video for a helpful exercise to improve your plantar flexion. Together, let's appreciate and care for our feet, because they carry us through life every single day.
How to improve your plantar flexion?
Practice with my seated exercise or try the standing variation.
Standing Single Leg Plantar Flexion:
*repeat the other side, practice 2 or more times a week!
Remember, the journey to wellness is a shared one, and I'd love to hear about your own experiences and progress.
Have you ever struggled with foot mobility or noticed the impact it has on your daily life?
Drop a comment below to share your story. If you find value in the video demo and this exercise helps you, show your support by giving a thumbs up! Let's keep this conversation going and create a community dedicated to better foot health. Practice with me and my demo video and take the first step towards better foot health today!
😘 Janel
DISCLAIMER: The content of this video is for educational and informational purposes only, it is not intended as medical advice or treatment. The information in this video is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease, health issue, or illness. The purpose of this video is to encourage you to make cognizant decisions about your body and overall health after consulting with your physician or a qualified health professional (QHP). By watching this video and reading this blog post, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own health and fitness decisions. You need to consult with your physician or a qualified health professional (QHP) prior to making any health or fitness changes, especially any changes related to a specific diagnosis or condition.
I am not a medical doctor or medical professional and I do not dispense medical advice or prescribe treatment. If you feel or believe that you have a medical problem or concern, contact your physician or health care provider immediately. Always consult with your medical doctor and/or health care provider before and/or making any other health/fitness related changes.
I am not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences that might result if you choose to make use of this video and blog post or apply any of the information that you have read on janelduross.com. By watching this video and blog post, visiting janelduross.com, and/or otherwise engaging with this information, you agree that you are solely responsible for any health and/or fitness decisions you make.
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