Many have written to me asking about a very simple but somewhat rare talent that I have. I can actually bend my feet nearly in half while doing a toe scrunch. This seems to fascinate so many of you and to be dead honest it had never really occurred to me that I was different until I came into the online foot community. I just figured most people could do the same thing.
I cannot exactly explain why I can achieve such a tight curl with my feet but I do have some interesting theories. Firstly and foremost I think it has a lot to do with two habits I have always had, even since childhood.
As a child I would always curl my toes under my feet with my heels touching the floor. The pressure in the knuckles just feels good to me and creates an almost tingly feeling in my joints and ligaments. I am thinking that over time I conditioned my ligaments to stretch out and allow for a wider range of motion through this constant bending and holding. Almost like how an athlete does “stretches” before they are to perform.
Secondly, this could all be because I am a “hypermobile” person, which can also be referred to as Double-Jointedness or Hypermobility Syndrome. I have slightly long toes and it appears I have almost an extra knuckle. This could possibly account for my wider range of motion and toe spreading. Hypermobility can affect a single joint or multiple joints throughout the body and I can still put my feet behind my head (with a little effort) so I imagine the same goes for my ankles and toes.
I do not have chronic pain in them any more than the average person but I can only guess what my feet will suffer through later in life due to the constant misuse of the joints and knuckles. I did a little interweb searching and came across a few good reads on the subject for those who wish to read further, since I am not a qualified physician and am merely making speculation as to my whys and how's I wanted to supply more information.
Article on Wikipedia on Hypermobility Syndrome, etc
Oxford Journals Rheumatology, Living with Hypermobility Syndrome
Now this following blog actually leads me to believe that my first assumption of exercising and stretching, could also be true.
It really ends up being what you personally think is the causing factor for those who can do these types of stretches, toe points and exercises.
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