foot cramps this winter after being off my feet due to a knee fracture...I was in absolute agony after even short 'walks' around the house. I used the thera-band and did some resistance exercises a few times each day and the swelling went down and the cramps diminished.
It took me a while to connect the pain with the need to strengthen those muscle and tendon groups! The more often I do the silly ankle exercises, the better I walk, and the less likely I am to fall.
As I've said before tho...start out very slow! Don't start out doing 20 flexes each way - you will HURT then. Do five at a time, 2-3 times a day, working up to 10-20 five times a day...doing it slowly, but regularly is far better.
Please give it a try. - j