What is up with my foot?!

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ThreeWBs

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Toes toes toes. I constantly twist my toes inwards (heels out and too far down). Only on my left leg. How can I combat this? Happens in both my jump and dressage saddles and on both of my horses too. Also doesn't matter what length I put my stirrup leathers.
 
Ooh interesting...do you find yourself gripping with your knees or thighs? Because I imagine that would lead to inward toe pointing
 
Orchard14 said:
Ooh interesting...do you find yourself gripping with your knees or thighs? Because I imagine that would lead to inward toe pointing
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I think I have quite loose knees.

I do get pains in my left hip, probably associated from all the twisting!
 
An interesting post from another HHOer noted that tightness in the hips can cause funky toe positioning - agree with cowpony worth a pro assessment.
 
I've just had my second session with the osteopath. He seems to think that I have hyper-flexible joints and weakness/instability in my knees. I'm doing work on my knees to strengthen them, but it still doesn't really explain why I twist my heel out so much.
 
I was about to say that you have loose joints. Tightness in your hips makes your toes point out, your the other way! The twist comes from your hip, not your knee, the loose knee joint just exacerbates it. You need to be thinking heel in. Try and bring your heel and point it towards the horses opposite hind leg. If you try it sitting down in a chair at first and move from toe in, heel out, to heel in, toe out, you will feel the hip joint moving to accommodate it. Then you just need to take that with you when you are on board and focus on it. It usually takes a month to 6 weeks to re train the muscle memory
 
Leo Walker said:
I was about to say that you have loose joints. Tightness in your hips makes your toes point out, your the other way! The twist comes from your hip, not your knee, the loose knee joint just exacerbates it. You need to be thinking heel in. Try and bring your heel and point it towards the horses opposite hind leg. If you try it sitting down in a chair at first and move from toe in, heel out, to heel in, toe out, you will feel the hip joint moving to accommodate it. Then you just need to take that with you when you are on board and focus on it. It usually takes a month to 6 weeks to re train the muscle memory
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Thank you - this makes a lot of sense. I'll work on it :)
 
I would second what Leo said, I have been having trouble with tight hips since an injury to my ankle and my toes look the complete opposite to yours.

Just out of interest what are your toes like if you ride with no stirrups?
 
HEM said:
I would second what Leo said, I have been having trouble with tight hips since an injury to my ankle and my toes look the complete opposite to yours.

Just out of interest what are your toes like if you ride with no stirrups?
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Better - but my toes are still turned in slightly!
 
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Your post title really tickled me! I suspect its coming from your hip too, I think I read the same article. I'm the opposite but I have an even funkier problem with my left heel which tries it's best to attach itself to my ar£e !!
 
ThreeWBs said:
I've just had my second session with the osteopath. He seems to think that I have hyper-flexible joints and weakness/instability in my knees. I'm doing work on my knees to strengthen them, but it still doesn't really explain why I twist my heel out so much.
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I have this same problem. I sit happily relaxed on the sofa, OH keeps on ‘feet, feet,feet’ as my toes are turned in (almost touching) and heels out. Feels natural to me, he says I am deformed 🙄. I have been diagnosed with hyper-flexible joints. My knees in particular are unstable. Exercises from the Physio have helped strengthen them. Hasn’t helped my position though!
 
I'm glad I'm not the only one with foot 'hang ups'!. After years of been shouted at 'heels down!', I think I've taken it to the extreme! :oops:
 
As well as going to an Osteopath, find a sports injuries clinic (if you are anywhere near Birmingham try Karl Travis at Birmingham Physiotherapy, in Edgbaston), and have a gait analysis done on a treadmill. They can prescribe orthotics that can help to change your foot, and therefor knee and hip positions.
 
Hard to tell from that photo but to me it looks like it's coming from higher up and you are collapsing through your left rib cage, this in turn may make you collapse your left seat bone in and put more weight through your left stirrup which in turn may make your heel drop further and swing the toe in. I'd be tempted to try stretching up through your left side ribcage and checking you are sitting equally on your seat bones and seeing what the toes do then. I would also try to take more weight through the thigh on that side and less into the stirrup. Just my musings, have fun exploring !
 
whiteflower said:
Hard to tell from that photo but to me it looks like it's coming from higher up and you are collapsing through your left rib cage, this in turn may make you collapse your left seat bone in and put more weight through your left stirrup which in turn may make your heel drop further and swing the toe in. I'd be tempted to try stretching up through your left side ribcage and checking you are sitting equally on your seat bones and seeing what the toes do then. I would also try to take more weight through the thigh on that side and less into the stirrup. Just my musings, have fun exploring !
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Thank you - We were stood on a bit of a slope, plus he is resting his near hind. I do think you're on the right track with my ribs and shoulders collapsing. It's going to be a long road to correct positioning!
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I actually thought upper body wise you looked remarkably level, it is very hard to tell in a quick photo though. Cut some circles out of duck tape and place them on your hips and shoulders making sure they are level, then get someone to video you. Make sure you wear plain clothes so theres nothing to draw your eye etc. Its usually pretty eye opening!
 
My equi pilates teacher also does rider biomechanics sessions - is there anyone near you who offers something similar?
 
Leo Walker said:
I actually thought upper body wise you looked remarkably level, it is very hard to tell in a quick photo though. Cut some circles out of duck tape and place them on your hips and shoulders making sure they are level, then get someone to video you. Make sure you wear plain clothes so theres nothing to draw your eye etc. Its usually pretty eye opening!
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That's a good idea - thank you
 
I'm just wondering how you put your leg on and whether a lazy one would cure you ;).

I'm lucky in the fact that though most of me is bendy my ankles are the opposite so they are my limiting factor, I suspect yours are bendy and therefore joining in with everything else.
 
ester said:
I'm just wondering how you put your leg on and whether a lazy one would cure you ;).

I'm lucky in the fact that though most of me is bendy my ankles are the opposite so they are my limiting factor, I suspect yours are bendy and therefore joining in with everything else.
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I'm lucky that I ride from my seat most of the time! The horse in my photos is 27, so knows what I'm thinking before I do!
 
ester said:
I suspected something like that, my oldie relationship is the other way round, I know what terror he is thinking before he does it (his main caregiver doesn't lol)

I don't know if this applies re having the foot right at the outside of the stirrup? https://murdochmethod.com/no-66-lengthen-leg/
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I was thinking about this today while riding because I have differently wonky feet, plus the wobbly joints and I also tend towards the outside of my foot being against the stirrup.

That definitely helps. I find it easier to maintain while actually doing stuff I have to think about like schooling if I make myself more aware of pressing on the ball of my whole foot. That straightened me up and gives a longer feeling leg without it being rammed.
Bloody hard business, this riding lark 🤣
 
Hi 3WB. Good that you have seen an osteopath. Yes, from this pic it does look like you have hyper mobility in your joints (I work with children and physical therapists in my job.)
I'm curious to know how you feel it affects your riding - I would imagine your foot doesn't feel rammed as such as you're not forcing anything? I ask partly as I have the exact opposite problem - stiff as a board everywhere (a gym instructor once said I was "off the chart - and this was when I was young!) Although your foot position looks a little odd :) at the same time, I kind of wish I had that kind of looseness to really wrap around my horse! I have found that the real source of my stiffness is not necessarily my ankle or knee, but my hip flexors.
Anyway, your osteopath is the best bet for answers - good luck with the exercises - keeping them up is the main thing! :)
 
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