How flexible is your pinky toe?

[acc]

I was reading the article posted today: http://birthdayshoes.com/toe-shoes-and-toe-strength

I found it interesting how the author, who had been barefoot 17 years, developed muscle atrophy and lack of independence in their toe muscles. I have been barefoot only indoors or on the beach pretty much. My left pinky toe doesn't flex independently but my right can

Another thing I notice is that dorsiflexing is easy in VFF but the other direction (what the author calls "grabbing", akin to fingers) is much harder than barefoot (obviously due to the rubber sole). If you want to see what I mean, try to pick something up with your toes , such as a towel or a pencil, in VFF and without. (see the towel grab at http://solecontrolorthotics.com/Foot_and_toe_exercises.aspx or pencil grab on http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/foot/stress_fracture/strengthening.php)

I think so many of the "barefoot" shoes, even the ones with Vibram soles like the Merrell Barefoot series, cannot address this lack of ability to toe "grab" simply because the toes are unified. It'd be like grabbing something with a mitten rather than a glove.  That is also a problem with the Fila Skeletoes, which to me are stiff as wood.

[barefootin]

Pinky toes are fine, bend, flex and have dexterity and I've been barefoot most of my 38 years......, despite being broken multiple times over the years.  Until two years ago though, my feet were in coffins for 9-12 hours a day due to work.  VFF's have a least made that time tollerable.  In KSO's I can still pick up most objects.  I can pick up pens, nuts and bolts, a golf ball and grab enough skin to make my kids holler  This is the biggest reason I wish Vibram made more shoes with the thinner.  I'm stuck with Treks for work and although I can bend them enough to walk my feet back and forth accross the floor, I can't pick things up.  

[runnerbean]

barefoot i can bend all my toes enough to pick up pencils, marbles etc and can pick up the marbles in my kso and classics but not in my bikilas but i can open the door in them 

[John]

My pinky toe is pretty flexible... Though I can't independently move my middle 3 toes. Can anyone else?

[barefootin]

My pinky toe is pretty flexible... Though I can't independently move my middle 3 toes. Can anyone else?

Yup, I can even let you know that you are number one using "the bad finger".....  I mean toe...... 

[flippant]

No dexterity in my pinky toes, whatsoever. They cling to the nearest neighbour, and are super, super small. Putting on my KSOs is a bit of a pain because of this.

[Mr. Leigh]

Not at all.  They are very short and hug their neighboring toe tightly.  It was a struggle at first to even wear VFFs because of it.  I have since been able to wear them without discomfort, but have seen no improvement in dexterity in my pinky toes.

[FL Runner]

No dexterity in my pinky toes, whatsoever. They cling to the nearest neighbour, and are super, super small. Putting on my KSOs is a bit of a pain because of this.

X2, however the rest of my toes have lengthened/lay flatter than before my transition (just past my 2 yr point) and I can "splay" them much better. Dang pinky toes are just resistant to improvement.

[JustinB]

I can move them independently if I am trying to splay them out.  The right one has started to lay significantly flatter than the before, the left not as much.

Same as stated as someone else, the middle threee do not move independently.... yet

[BearFooted]

My right is better then my left.  I can splay them out quite wide.  If I have them splayed out I can put each toe on the ground individually.  I can sort of lift them individually also but not as well.

The left is not as good I am working on getting the pinky to splay out but it is taking time. 

I remember feeling the mussels/tendons being formed/improved when i first started wearing the VFF shoes.  It was a unique soreness that I had not felt before that ran from the Pinky toes up to my knee.  Quite interesting feeling when it was happening. 

[manny_deleon]

I think my Pinky toe has a  mind of its own. 

[Litening]

I havent'; been on VFFs for very long and i've always had good flexibility in my pinky toe. but my three middle toes seem to still be very stiff.
although when i try to splay them out, i am seeing a little more space than i used to before.

i hope i'm on the right track. i've purchased a pair of komodos which i love, and merrell trail gloves. they're both so great.

[flippant]

No dexterity in my pinky toes, whatsoever. They cling to the nearest neighbour, and are super, super small. Putting on my KSOs is a bit of a pain because of this.

I can flex them now!

[RunningTim]

No dexterity in my pinky toes, whatsoever. They cling to the nearest neighbour, and are super, super small. Putting on my KSOs is a bit of a pain because of this.

Mine are the same. Tried on a pair of KSOs in the store the other week and I really struggled to get them on. I haven't bought them yet so I'm hoping I can build up some toe strength and flexibility by running BF and exercies so that when I do go to buy them, I can actually get them on within 15 minutes. Hell I would accept 5 minutes!

[JustinB]

Within a week of owning them you will be sliding them on in under a 2 minutes if not faster.