09/07/2026
You’ve probably been told to do towel scrunches to strengthen your feet—but if you have a bunion, pay attention to what your big toe is actually doing.
With a traditional towel scrunch, the big toe often pulls inward toward the other toes as you grip. So while you may be strengthening the toe flexors, you’re also repeatedly practicing the same big-toe adduction pattern you’re trying to improve.
Try this instead:
Roll the towel and place part of it between the big toe and second toe, then tuck the rest underneath the smaller toes.
Now curl the smaller toes into the towel while allowing the big toe to stay more separated and aligned. This gives the smaller toes room to flex while reducing how much the big toe collapses inward toward them.
The goal isn’t just to strengthen your foot. It’s to strengthen it in a better position.
Don’t just exercise the problem. Change the pattern you’re practicing.