FIXITFIXITOpen App

👣 Towel Scrunches

Towel Scrunches are a beginner foot exercise that targets the intrinsic foot muscles. Scrunch a towel under your foot to strengthen the small intrinsic foot muscles. They're commonly prescribed during rehabilitation for Plantar Fasciitis and Ankle Sprain. Below is how to perform Towel Scrunches with correct form, plus the benefits, common mistakes, and how many reps to aim for.

FootBeginnerTowel3 × 10

Benefits of the Towel Scrunches

  • Strengthens and activates the intrinsic foot muscles
  • Improves strength
  • Supports recovery and rehab for Plantar Fasciitis and Ankle Sprain
  • Can be done with simple equipment (towel)
  • Performed sitting, so it's easy to set up

How to do the Towel Scrunches

  1. Sit with bare foot on a towel on smooth floor
  2. Use your toes to scrunch the towel toward you
  3. Reset and repeat

How many reps & sets

A common starting point is 3 sets of 10 reps. Progress gradually and stop if you feel sharp pain.

Form tips

  • Keep your heel still
  • Use only your toes

Muscles worked

Intrinsic foot muscles

Who should do the Towel Scrunches?

Towel Scrunches are often included in programs for people recovering from Plantar Fasciitis and Ankle Sprain, and for anyone wanting to strengthen the foot. They're rated beginner.

Towel Scrunches — FAQ

What muscles do Towel Scrunches work?
Towel Scrunches primarily target the intrinsic foot muscles.
How many sets and reps of Towel Scrunches should I do?
A common starting point is 3 sets of 10 reps. Progress gradually and stop if you feel sharp pain.
Are Towel Scrunches good for Plantar Fasciitis?
Yes — Towel Scrunches are commonly used in rehab for Plantar Fasciitis and Ankle Sprain. Confirm with your clinician before starting, especially if you have pain.
Do I need equipment for Towel Scrunches?
You'll need: towel.
Track this exercise with AI form scoring

Get FIXIT free — follow guided demos, record your reps, and get instant AI feedback on your form.

Start free →

Related Foot exercises

Plantar Fascia Stretch

We collect and process your data to provide health tracking and AI-powered exercise analysis. Your data is stored securely in Toronto, Canada.

Learn More