It’s Alive!
When most people think about bone. A picture of a skeleton may usually pop up. In regards to this the skeleton can seem to be this dead thing. However just like all the other tissues of the body it is living tissue and just as all the other tissues of the body it is constantly changing.
Wolff’s law and bunions
Wolff's law is the idea that the tissues that make up bone will be affected by the stresses that are put upon them.
This can be seen in various martial arts where fighters gradually condition their fists and shins to the point where these areas become more dense and are then able to take the stresses put upon them.
Another interpretation of this law that I have heard is that of the constant pull of tendinous attachments that may cause bone to grow to pick up the slack that may be present with different movement patterns.
A common one is the bunion on the big toe, usually this bone formation is explained by the constant abrasions on the bone from tight or misfitting shoes. Another idea however is that because of the lack of the movement big toe and more specifically abduction ( spreading the toes apart) the big toe start to bend toward the center of the foot which over time along with the further stresses put upon it by bad shoes and walking/running mechanics slows begins to build the formation of a bunion.
Move those toes
An easy way to work on the toes is through CARs or Controlled Articular Rotations in the toes. Clients are always amazed when i show them and they find it really difficult to move the toes in a controlled manner in all the various ranges of motion.
See video
With all the toes on the floor only lift the big toe
With all the toes in the air only bring down the big toe
With all the toes up try to piano key the toes down one at a time
Try to spread the toes apart