Catching Your Toes When You Walk? Watch This To Improve Your Parkinson’s Gait

Often, people with Parkinson’s have a hard time picking up their toes and feet while walking. Instead, they shuffle along, which leads to falls. This is a neurological symptom, but the result of not picking up your toes is the weakening of the tibialis anterior muscle (located on your shin). If you don’t use it, you start to lose it.

The tibialis anterior helps you flex your ankle and lift your foot off the ground, which is critical to having proper gait. When this muscle gets weak due to Parkinson’s, it’s known as “foot drop,” and this can lead to catching your toes or falling.

Watch this video to Stop Catching Your Toes When You Walk and Improve Your Parkinson’s Gait:

Benefits of Tibialis Anterior exercises:

• Strengthen lower leg muscles
• Improve range of motion in the knee and ankle
• Improve gait issues
• Prevent stiffness and improve flexibility in the calves, ankles, and heels
• Reduce the risk of injury to calves, ankles, and feet

Do this toe raise exercise for 15-20 reps, three times a day. Creating muscle endurance takes a lot of reps. It will be worth it to work these muscles!

If you want a seated option for this exercise, watch this video: Do This Parkinson’s Toe Raise to Treat the Effects of Prolonged Sitting.

Are you looking for more exercises to improve your balance? Join our Balance Builder Course! It’s a five-week course that you can do in person or virtually. Classes are held once a week and you’ll also get recorded videos that you can do at home. For more information, email Kimberly.

We also offer specialty digital courses to address a variety of Parkinson’s symptoms, including stooped posture and stiff hands and feet:

• Rebel Fit Club Posture School
• Rebel Fit Club’s “From Cramping Feet to Happy Feet!” Course
• Rebel Fit Club’s PD Exercises to Improve Hand Dexterity & Mobility

💜 Coach Kimberly