Heel Walking — start position
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Heel Walking — end position
End

Feet & ankles / Beginner / Isolation (single joint)

Heel Walking

Walking on your heels with the toes pulled up: shin strength and ankle control.

At a glance

Primary
Shins (tibialis)
Secondary
Feet (arch & toes), Outer shins (peroneals)
Equipment
Bodyweight
Movement pattern
Ankle dorsiflexion, Single-leg balance
Level
Beginner
Type
Feet & ankles, Isolation (single joint), Balance / unstable

How to do it

  1. Stand tall and lift your toes and the front of your feet off the floor.
  2. Walk forward on your heels in short steps for 20–30 metres.
  3. Keep the toes pulled up the whole time and the knees almost straight.
  4. Rest, then walk back. Try it with the toes turned in, then turned out.

Tips

  • Take short steps and don't lean back.
  • Barefoot is fine on a smooth floor.

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Muscles worked

Neck (Front)Upper traps (Front)Front delts (Front)Side delts (Front)Chest (Front)Serratus anterior (Front)Biceps (Front)Forearms & grip (Front)Abs (Front)Obliques (Front)Hip flexors (Front)Quads (Front)Adductors (Front)Shins (tibialis) — primary (Front)Calves (Front)Outer shins (peroneals) — secondary (Front)Feet (arch & toes) — secondary (Front)Neck (Back)Upper traps (Back)Upper back (rhomboids, mid/lower traps) (Back)Rear delts (Back)Side delts (Back)Rotator cuff (Back)Lats (Back)Lower back (erectors) (Back)Triceps (Back)Forearms & grip (Back)Hip abductors (glute med) (Back)Glutes (Back)Hamstrings (Back)Adductors (Back)Calves (Back)
FrontBack
  • Primary: Shins (tibialis)
  • Secondary: Feet (arch & toes), Outer shins (peroneals)

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Illustration: TVIKY.