Effect of the Toe Exercises on the Medial Longitudinal Arch of the Foot

[Purpose] The toes play an important role, yet the role of toe flexor strength is poorly understood. We have performed clinical and electromyogram (EMG) studies of the toe exercises we developed. However, the relationship between our toe exercises and the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) has remained unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the toe exercises and MLA. [Subject and Methods] The subjects were 20 feet of 20 participants (10 males, 10 females), whose mean age was 22.5±3.6 years old. The participants performed three toe exercises and the towel gathering exercise. The three toe exercises were isotonic contractions (10 times) of the great toe flexor, 2nd-to-5th toe flexors and 3rd-to-5th toe flexors. All subjects randomly performed the three toe exercises and the towel gathering exercise. Before and after each exercise, we assessed MLA using the Navicular Drop test (ND). [Results] ND before the training was 4.34 mm. ND after towel gathering was 4.94 mm, without a significant difference from before exercise. After the great toe exercise, ND was 5.25 mm, a significant drop compared with before exercise. After the 2nd-to-5th toe flexors and 3rd-to-5th toe flexors exercises, ND was 3.07 mm, and 3.32 mm respectively, with no significant drop in comparison with before exercise. [Conclusion] The great toe flexor exercise significantly decreased MLA. The relationship between the towel gathering exercise and MLA was poor. However, this exercise is similar to the great toe flexor exercise. On the other hand, the exercises of 2nd-to-5th toe flexors and 3rd-to-5th toe flexors increased MLA.