The Big Role Your Big Toe Plays in Running—Plus How to Stretch and Strengthen It

There’s a lot going on in runners’ feet. Each one is made up of 26 bones, 30 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Of those, maybe you spend a lot of time stressing about your plantar fascia. Maybe tendonitis is your literal Achilles heel. Or maybe you spend too many runs worrying about what color your toenails will be at the end. But how much brain space do you dedicate to your big toe, specifically? We ask because it deserves your attention. A quick anatomy lesson: Your big toe, a.k.a. the hallux, consists of two joints—the interphalangeal joint (which is up by your nail), and the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, which connects the first long bone (metatarsal) in the forefoot to the first bone of the big toe (phalanx). The MTP joint is the important one for runners, because it needs to bend with every step you take—and if it isn’t doing that correctly, it could inhibit your performance. [View in Browser]( [Runner's World Logo]( [SHOP]( [RW+ EXCLUSIVE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [The Big Role Your Big Toe Plays in Running—Plus How to Stretch and Strengthen It]( [The Big Role Your Big Toe Plays in Running—Plus How to Stretch and Strengthen It]( [The Big Role Your Big Toe Plays in Running—Plus How to Stretch and Strengthen It]( There’s a lot going on in runners’ feet. Each one is made up of 26 bones, 30 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Of those, maybe you spend a lot of time stressing about your plantar fascia. Maybe tendonitis is your literal Achilles heel. Or maybe you spend too many runs worrying about what color your toenails will be at the end. But how much brain space do you dedicate to your big toe, specifically? We ask because it deserves your attention. A quick anatomy lesson: Your big toe, a.k.a. the hallux, consists of two joints—the interphalangeal joint (which is up by your nail), and the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, which connects the first long bone (metatarsal) in the forefoot to the first bone of the big toe (phalanx). The MTP joint is the important one for runners, because it needs to bend with every step you take—and if it isn’t doing that correctly, it could inhibit your performance. There’s a lot going on in runners’ feet. Each one is made up of 26 bones, 30 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Of those, maybe you spend a lot of time stressing about your plantar fascia. Maybe tendonitis is your literal Achilles heel. Or maybe you spend too many runs worrying about what color your toenails will be at the end. But how much brain space do you dedicate to your big toe, specifically? We ask because it deserves your attention. A quick anatomy lesson: Your big toe, a.k.a. the hallux, consists of two joints—the interphalangeal joint (which is up by your nail), and the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, which connects the first long bone (metatarsal) in the forefoot to the first bone of the big toe (phalanx). The MTP joint is the important one for runners, because it needs to bend with every step you take—and if it isn’t doing that correctly, it could inhibit your performance. [Read More]( [Read More](     [VJ’s Ultra 2 Is a Seriously Rugged, Grippy Tank on Wet Trails]( [VJ’s Ultra 2 Is a Seriously Rugged, Grippy Tank on Wet Trails]( The addition of a full-length rock plate makes this version even more protective. [Read More](       [Everything You Need to Know About Marathon Training Plans]( [Everything You Need to Know About Marathon Training Plans]( Plus, everything you need for a successful buildup to your next (or first!) 26.2-mile race. [Read More](   [5 Cool Down Stretches to Jumpstart Your Recovery]( [5 Cool Down Stretches to Jumpstart Your Recovery]( Here are five relaxing moves to add to your postworkout routine. [Read More](       [Suspect Who Allegedly Sexually Assaulted Runners Arrested]( [Suspect Who Allegedly Sexually Assaulted Runners Arrested]( An 18-year-old man was charged with multiple offenses Thursday in San Diego. [Read More](   [A Study By Adidas Found 92 Percent of Women Runners Are Concerned About Their Safety]( [A Study By Adidas Found 92 Percent of Women Runners Are Concerned About Their Safety]( And only 18 percent of men believed it’s their responsibility to make women feel safer. [Read More](   [90-Day Transformation Challenge: Abs](   Follow Us [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Notice/Notice at Collection]( RunnersWorld.com ©2023 Hearst Magazines, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019