Bad Calf Muscles=Bad Feet

I sure do see a lot of foot and calf problems. The most recent that seems to be in epidemic proportions is tibialis posterior. Almost anytime that I have a client with plantar fasciitis symptoms, they have tibialis posterior symptoms too. Tibialis posterior can manifest itself in several places, just below the knee and behind the tibia, midway down the tibia and just behind the medial ankle bone. This can become very serious if left unattended. I first learned of this by working on a client and did some internet research on treatment and rehabilitating this injury.

The main problem with this muscle is that it is a support muscle that gets weaker as all of the muscles around it get stronger. This muscle originates on the back of the tibia and goes down the back of the tibia and inserts on the medial cuneform. An easy way to spot tibialis posterior problems is to look for a little "puffy spot" on the inside of the arch.

Treatment is easy. The problem is you may have to do it for as long as you don't want to have problems as you are predisposed to it. First, take a towel and place on the floor, take your barefoot and place on the towel and scrunch your toes toward your heel thus bunching up the towel. Next, get a red or green theraband about 5 feet long, tie it in a knot, take a seat, cross one leg over the other, place your other foot on the band with one leg, (with shoes on) place the band around the inside of the crossed foot. Allow band to pull your foot down and out, now sweep your foot in and toward you and repeat 15 times. I recommend twice a day. Repeat this on the other leg/foot because the problem is lurking over there.