Foot Flossing

Welcome back, flossing fans. In today's blog post we are going to talk about using a flossing band on the foot. Our feet are the body's primary contact with the world. Naturally we do not really have anything on our feet to protrect them from the world. However, in our modern society, we have many different options of footwear to put on our feet. The footwear is not only for protection but fashion is a big part of it as well. Fitting your foot in a small, narrow shoe can be quite uncomfortable and maybe that can cause some foot pain. This blog post is not about shoes though it is about foot injuries and wrapping the foot with a flossing band to help decrease swelling, pain and increase mobility of the foot.

The foot is a very mobile part of the body, there are 26 bones in the foot and 33 joints. If there are more joints that bones, i.e. some bones move with multiple other bones and in multiple directions, then that area of the body is meant to be mobile (in my humble opinion). When you have a foot/ankle injury and the foot/ankle swell up, then flossing can be part of the treatment plan of help to get rid of the swelling.

How can flossing be used? Wrapping the flossing on the foot, you start near the toes and then wrap up the foot towards the ankle, then up the ankle towards the knee. Remember when wrapping the Voodoo Floss band that it should be at 50% tension and 50% overlap. Here is a video of how to wrap a foot/ankle with a flossing band.

Then you can elevate the foot and do some foot/ankle movements, pulling the foot towards the shin, dorsiflexion, and pointing the toes down, plantar flexion. In addition, you can bring the toes towards the centre of the body, inversion, and take the toes away from the centre of the body, eversion. Having the client do those movements for 1-2 minutes, lying down with the foot elevated. Then I would get the client standing up and doing some squats then when they stand up straight the client will do a heel raise/ calf raise exercise. I will get them doing those exercises for about 60-90 seconds (try doing squats for 60-90 seconds, you will appreciate cutting the time down). Then we take the flossing band off and re-evaluate the ankle/foot swelling, mobility and ease of movement.

Have you turned/hurt your ankle or foot recently? Would you like to try flossing as part of a plan to get you back moving painfree? Please call New Leaf Physiotherapy for your at home physiotherapy needs. 250-826-7300 to talk with Lyndsey, a certified Rehabiliation Assistant, to help you book your assessment.

New Leaf Physiotherapy is a mobile physiotherapy service that sees clients in West Kelowna, Kelowna and Lake Country.