I'm 20 years old, healthy and athletic. I have never had any injuries to my feet or toes and for some reason I have never been able to bend my toes. If I do try to bend them then my feet cramp and it's very painful. What's wrong with them?
Responses (3)
So, you're able to bend them even a little and it hurts, or is it completely impossible to move them? Maybe your cartilage has overgrown. My friend cant bend a finger on her hand because she wasnt moving it enough as a child and her joint isnt visible even on x-rays. That finger even looks malformed a bit (its not like other fingers) and has no wrinkles on the spot where the joint should be
The pain comes because the nerves and muscles aren't used to signaling and contracting the way they need to for intentional movement. Essentially they are atrophied and very weak, and tucker out quickly.
When you flex your toes, clench through the pain (cramps should not cause damage even though painful). If you can, the pain will quickly become pleasant and the toes should become easier to bend, and because of the pain the nerve+muscle will be easier to find in the future. Lactic acid => muscle memory maybe?
I used to get foot cramps as a kid which taught me to keep my toes relaxed... however I eventually realized that I must have kept them too relaxed as there were toes on both feet I could not bend willfully. When I tried to retrain them/exercise them, I ran into the same problem as you. Just keep practicing, clench them, wiggle them, spread them every day and eventually the pain will go away and their stamina and dexterity will improve
They don't look deformed or anything? They have the wrinkles where they should be etc, I tried to bend them when I wad young but my feet cramp everytime I try but still not even the slightest bend