Sore Ball of Foot

[rbrown]

Hello, in doing BME's/Kinetic Chains such as Squat Creep to Shin Twist, I find that the ball of my left foot (the underside of the knuckle of my big toe) gets sore and stays sore, much like a "stone bruise." It doesn't bother me, except when I put pressure on it in this type of exercise and even then, it's not bad....though I don't do the exercises for long. Do you think I just need to toughen this area by continuing to do the exercises, or do you think I may be setting myself up for injury and should lay off this type of exercise for a while?

Thanks!

[mechow]

Ive been working the squat creep alot lately along with shooter/hurdler squat...moving around on ball of toe. I dont get a sore toe but I do get a deep ache along the back and outside of my lower legs. Have you experienced this?

[Scott Sonnon]

Robert,

Have you had any recent trauma to that leg or hip? What about your opposite shoulder or arm?

[rbrown]

Coach, no trauma to either area that I can think of. In paying a bit more attention to the sore area, I find that it is more sore on the outside edge of the knuckle than it is on the bottom. I have also noticed that my left big toe hurts a bit when I move my weight forward over it when in a Ball of Foot Squat (stretching the underside of the toe). Anyway, it isn't bad, just a little annoying. I figure I'll continue doing these BME's for a bit and see how it feels. If it doesn't toughen up, then I'll lay off them for a while and see if that does the trick. Sound reasonable?

Thanks!

p.s. mechow, no, I have not experienced the deep ache that you described, but I am not spending alot of time in these positions.

[Scott Sonnon]

Robert,

Do you wear any foot coverage when your practicing Body-Flow? Have you been doing many Shin Rolls (themselves or as part of larger BMEs or Kinetic Chains) lately?

[rbrown]

Sorry Coach, I guess that information would be important, huh. No, I haven't worn any footwear (other than socks) when I do BME's. I gotta get me some UGS! The added bonus of immunity to joint manipulation is just too hard to pass up. Also, I do them on a fairly thin and dense rug on a hardwood floor. Not very forgiving.

And also, no, I haven't done any shin rolls. So far the only BME's I do with any regularity are the Squat Creep, Shin Twist, Knee Switch and Quad Switch. Actually, I hadn't done the Knee Switch in awhile and had forgotten that they hit the affected area pretty hard. At least for me, not being smoothe and flexible, I think my weight rolls across that knuckle grinding it into the floor rather nicely.

So, if my assumptions are correct and I am basically inflicting trauma on this area of my foot...should I tough it out (like Coach Szolek and his fist push ups on concrete--ow) or swaddle my foot and/or floor in more protective textiles?

Thanks!