Towel Pulling

[Mintee]

In Whitney Lowe's book, Functional Assessment in Massage Therapy, he mentions two techniques. For Splayed Foot, he recommends "towel pulling." For Pes Planus, he recommends "gathering cloth with toes."

Does anyone know what "towel pulling" is or is this the same technique as "gathering cloth with toes?"

 

[aglael l]

jdcan perhaps this will help?

Pes Planus - foot strengthening exercises:
http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/aa4617spec

Here is a resource that describes the "gathering of cloth with toes" as an exercise to help children with flat feet.
http://www.footankle.com/flat-feet-children.htm


This article has photos of gathering a towel with the toes...

Men's Health Guide to Peak Conditioning Feet:
http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/43/24.cfm

 

[billgates27]

Actually, I'm trying to find something other than towel scrunches (gathering cloth). The client has a higher longitudinal arch in the splayed foot than the other. I don't want to have her do anything to exasperate that.

I was hoping "towel pulls" were something different.
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Thanks for the info, though. I looked through it, no exercises there specifically for splayed foot.

 

[brown6027]

I use towel scrunches for clients who need effective footwork. I also utilize moving marbles. Rolling a cold old coke bottle and/or a cold tennis ball under the foot can be helpful (plantar fascitis).

Towel scrunches are just a really nice way to help gain better dexterity of the foot. You flip a small hand towel or lightweight full size towel flat on the floor. From there the client grabs the end of the towel and starts scrunching it a little at a time (toward them) with the toes of the affected foot.

I know you already know this jdcan, but I thought it may be helpful for someone else.

 

[victoria d]

Two "towel pull" exercises for the feet are:

1. Sit on floor with legs straight. Wrap towel around the ball of one foot and pull toward you (dorsiflexion stretch.)

2. Same position as #1 but instead of pulling towel toward you, instead pull one side of towel toward you, then the other, in a gentle side to side motion (eversion/inversion stretch).

 

[Samantha K]

Thanks for the replies.