Keeping your feet in good condition is the best way to help prevent foot problems. Here are some exercises to strengthen, limber and stretch the muscles of the foot.

1. Air alphabet. Point toes and write the alphabet in the air three times.
    Repeat on your other foot. (You can do these in bed each morning and night.)

2. Toe pick-ups. Pick up small objects like marbles one-by-one with your toes and place
     them in a container.

3. Toe clenches. Place small corks or firm rolled cotton between your toes and squeeze
    for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times.

4. Big toe tug-o-war. Place a thick rubber band around both big toes. Pull toes away from
    each other, toward smaller toes. Hold 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times.

5. Toe spreaders. Put a thick rubber band around all of your toes. Spread toes, holding for
    5 seconds. Repeat 10 times.

6. Towel scrunches. Place a small towel on a smooth, uncarpeted floor. Starting at one
    corner, curl your toes to scrunch the towel toward you. Repeat 5 times. For more resistance,
    weight the opposite end of the towel.

7. Towel scoops. Fold towel in half and place sideways on a smooth, uncarpeted floor.
    With heel on the floor and forefoot on the towel, scoop up the towel with the toes,
    keeping the heel firmly on the floor at all times. Repeat 10 times.

8. Golf ball massage. Sit on a chair and with as much pressure as is comfortable roll
    a golf ball under the ball of your bare foot for 5 minutes. Roll in circular motion, from
    front to back and along the arches and outer edges of each foot. Do this exercise
    morning and evening.