GorazdR

I will and I'll try to post some pictorures in the future, too!

It sure did. My goal is to wear ballet heels "comfortably". Currently I'm not even near that goal, but it has helped A LOT when wearing 6'' heels. The diffenece is truly remarkable!

Hi, it's been a week since you last heard from me! And what a week it has been!! Two very imoprtant developments! I made my very own foot bender. It's just like the one on Heike Heels page except for the metal (aluminum) rod. I replaced it with the cut hockey stick and it works just as fine. I will post some photos in the future, I promise!! The second development is, of course, my improvement. My toes are currently "just" 3 2/4 inches from the ground which is in my oppinion very substantial improvement. How much did foot bender contribute to that decrease is open to speculation because I've never stopped using therabands. nice day to you all

As mentioned in literature (ballet and swimming) your ankle needs about 4 weeks to start showing results when ankle flexibility is in question. I'm proud to mention that I was able to improve my flexibility substantially during the last 10 days. Currently my toes are 3 3/4 inches from the ground (that's down 4 1/4) and my foot, for the first time, is showing nice curve - from my shin to my toes. Naturally I'm still way off my goal, but the progress has been encouraging! I too am thinking about acquiring foot training device that would keep my feet in pointe position during the night. The thing with bedsheets doesn't work form me, cause my feet aren't stretched to the point I would want them to be. I also noticed that the cramps in my arches subsided substantially. When I started two months ago a was able to hold my feet in pointed position only for couple of minuted before the cramps began, now I hardly get any! I wish all very good night Gordon!

It's been a week from my last posting on my improvement. During the week I managed to go from 4 3/4 in to 4 1/4 in which in a great improvement. All that has given me additional drive to reach my goal.

My current set of exercises is:

1. Releve (calf rises) 16 left foot, 16 right foot, 16 both feet

2. Feet tucked under 3.5 in sofa for 5 mins

3. Theraband exercises for strength - 7 mins

4. Sitting on feet. The tops (toes) are raised by an inch with the help of a book. - 2 mins

The "routine" takes me about 15 minutes / day.

Hi, could you please explain that. I think, that the beter your ankle flexibility the easier is for you to have your ankle (and foot) pointed in high-heel position. It is important for ballet dancers and, I think, is important for people who want to wear ballet heels.

Please post them, I'd like to know if I'm over-indulging myself in stretching regimen. I want to dedicate at least 40 minutes/day for stretching/strengthening exercises. First I stretch my feet. I tuck them under 3" sofa and try to straighten my knees. This is called passive stretching and does nothing for the ability have strong ankles. It just flexes the muscles in your feet, so that they're more susceptible to active stretching. Active stretching is stretching where you apply your own force to bend your ankles. I use therabands, which are sold in every Wall or K*Mart. I use two king of bands which differ in resistance. I wrap my left foot around the band, hold each end of it with my hands, then I straighten my knees and point my toes. I start with the easier band. I do 100 pointes on each foot with each of the two bands. This kind of stretching is called plantar-flexion. It is very advisable to do a couple of exercises of dorsi-flexion as well (opposite ankle movement). It prevents injuries. It is also very advisable to write an alphabet with your feet, and to roll on a cold can or tennis ball. Some people wrap their feet in ice after they've done their exercises. That'll be my part. gordon

Certainly,

it is seen in this video:

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=PV99u_vrGNE

This is a true floorpoint where the toes actually touch the ground - so the distance from the floor is 0 in.

You have plenty of similar videos on YouTube.

Gordon

I do exercises to improve strength and flexibility of my ankles daily. I've just opened a thread. I have a couple of exercises - my fiancee is a ballerina. Gordon

little bit of both, i suspect. The foot looks so much better in high heels.

waves

It all comes down to ankle flexibility. You have to work on that. What you need is to incorporate gaines in flexibility with geater strength of your ankle muscles. I use therabands for strength. For flexibility is good if you sit on your feet while watching TV,... or to tuck them under a sofa,... with extended knees (pike position). Ballet dancers do that all the time. Gordon

Hi friends,

Firstly I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Gordon and I'm into ankle flexibility training. I'd like to know your stories about how you coped with your feet always being in high-heel position and changes in ankle range-of-motion.

I'm keeping a diary of my ankle flexibility improvement and in only two months a great improvements have been achieved. With the use of therabands for increased strength and foot bending device for increased flexibility, my toe point has improved substantially.

This thread will be a diary of my foot training regime.

What are the exercises:

It is VITAL that you work on your flexibility as well as on your strength. My fiancee is a ballet dancer and always puts more effort in strengthening that stretching.

My goal:

Sitting, legs extended. When poinitng my feet/toes, the goal is for the toes to reach the ground. It is called floorpointe (you can see what I mean on youtube - they've got plenty of videos depicting it). I want to achieve that in one year's time (september 2009). I'll take measurements once a week. Ultimately I want to be able to wear ballet boots comfortably.

Situation:

When I started my foot training (to months ago), with my feet/toes fully pointed, my toes reached 6 inches form the floor. Consulting literature I'd discovered that that is about average ankle flexibility.

However after just one week on doing stringent exercises every day, my toe point improved by whole inch.

After that my weekly improvements were naturally much more modest.

Currently I'm at 4 3/4 inches.

I want to know how far your toes reach. If I want to wear ballet boots I I'll have to improve my flexibility even more.

Thank you all, You'll hear from me as soon as new measurements are in.

Gordon

Hello, My name is Gordon and I'm into foot training. I'm really looking forward to meeting & discussing the topic with you.