Toe pain can result from several problems, including bunions, hammertoes, corns, calluses and arthritis. To prevent toe pain, avoid wearing narrow and ill-fitting footwear. Performing exercises with your toes on a regular basis can strengthen the area to relieve discomfort. If you are experiencing persistent toe pain, contact a doctor in order to treat the underlying problem.
Bunions
Bunions can be one of the causes of foot pain. When you suffer from a bunion, the big toe points toward the neighboring toe and a bump appears on the outside of the foot. The pain from the bunion is typically aggravated when wearing shoes. Exercising the joints in the toes may reduce this pain. Although exercise can help with pain symptoms, bunion surgery may be required to correct the deformity.
Toe Flexes
Exercising the toe for bunion pain can be as simple as moving the joint with your hand. Grab the big toe with your hand and flex the joint to the front, back, right and left of your foot. At the end of the movement, hold in place for 10 to 15 seconds. Move the toe in the opposite direction for the next rep and hold again for 10 to 15 seconds at the end of the range-of-motion exercise. Aim for six to eight reps.
Rubber Band Pulls
You can use aids to help exercise the toes for pain relief caused by bunions and toe cramps. For instance, thick rubber bands can create a small amount of resistance to increase strength. Wrap each end of the rubber band around the big toes on your feet. Pull the toes away from each other and toward the other toes. Hold for five seconds at full extension and release. Repeat five times.
Toe Curls
Curling your toes is a form of exercise that may help relieve pain related to toe cramps and hammertoes. Curl your toes toward the back of your foot and hold for 10 seconds. Release and repeat 10 times. To add some difficulty, you can place an object, like a towel on the floor in front of you and curl it to you, using only your toes.
