I Spent 30 Days Strengthening My Feet — And It Changed How My Body Moves
Key takeaways
- Author: Ava Durgin May 23, 2026Assistant Health Editor By Ava Durgin Assistant Health Editor Ava Durgin is the former Assistant Health Editor at mindbodygreen.
- But what about your flexor digitorum brevis?
- But it is true that we almost never think about the muscles of our feet.
Why this matters: practical guidance grounded in recent research or expert insight.
Author: Ava Durgin May 23, 2026Assistant Health Editor By Ava Durgin Assistant Health Editor Ava Durgin is the former Assistant Health Editor at mindbodygreen. She holds a B.A. in Global Health and Psychology from Duke University.Image by Ava Durgin x mbg creative May 23, 2026Biceps, quads, abs, glutes (and yes, extra emphasis on the glutes)—these are the muscles that take up the majority of our mental real estate. We track them, obsess over them, build entire training blocks around them.
But what about your flexor digitorum brevis? Your quadratus plantae? Your plantar interossei?
Okay, I'm being slightly facetious. But it is true that we almost never think about the muscles of our feet. There are 29 of them, small and intricate and working constantly underneath us, and for most of us, they're a complete afterthought. We ice our hamstrings, foam roll our IT bands, and spend entire sessions dedicated to shoulder mobility. And then we slide on a pair of narrow-toed sneakers and call it a day.