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Learn more about how natural remedies can cure common foot conditions and restore healthy lifestyles.

Troubleshooting Correct Toes: Strategies for Improving Success

Correct Toes confusion/misconceptions Why am I not seeing results? Other issues How to improve success with CTs:
  1. Get the right fit; modify if necessary
  2. Get compatible shoes; avoid bad shoes
  3. Start low and light, progress slowly
  4. Consistent foot exercising
    1. Functional work w/ CTs/shoes - walking, running, hiking, gym work
    2. Targeted work barefoot or w/o CTs - mobilization, stretching, coordination, targeted exercises
  • Wrong size/fits → CTs should ideally align your toe bones with foot bones and that’s what your long-term goal should be; its OK to start slower and work progressively by adding shims
    • CTs too small → not enough splay, rubbing, chafing, blisters, compressing toes
      • Solution: size up, modify
    • CTs too big → slipping off, buckling
      • Solution: modify, size down
    • Size chart is a guideline
      • Size up if on the cusp or if wider feet, thicker toes
    • Modifications
  • Incompatible footwear → toe box too narrow/tapered and compresses toes into CTs causing discomfort, pain
    • Shoe liner test to evaluate toe box shape
    • “Wide” shoes are often widest at the ball of the foot but still taper the toes together
    • Even “wide toe” shoes might not be wide enough
    • Every step in shoes that are bad for feet is a step in the wrong direction
  • Too much too fast → discomfort, pain; need load management
    • Slow transition down
    • Incorporate stretching and strengthening exercises
  • Expecting immediate results / not exercising → this process takes time
    • Minimum 6 months of regular PT to make lasting changes
    • Requires many steps and active foot
    • More active = sooner results
    • Takes years to truly build up strong resilient feet
CORRECT TOES FIT - SIZING AND MODIFICATIONS
  • Goal - toe bones aligned with metatarsal bones
    • *except if metatarsal bones have shifted
  • Too big examples
  • Too small examples
  • Modification solutions - shim, pinky toe trim, short toes, thin toes-socks
COMPATIBLE FOOTWEAR
  • Shoe liner test
    • Pass - with CTs/splayed toes
    • Fail
      • Regular shoe fail
      • Wide shoe fail
      • Solutions= remove shoe liner, trim pinky toe spacer, move shoe lacing back
    • Length = ½-1 thumbs width difference
  • Upper
    • Restrictive
    • Stretchy
    • Open
LOAD MANAGEMENT - DOING TOO MUCH TOO FAST
  • Day 1 - 30 mins passively
    • Increase by 30 mins each day as tolerated
    • Increase the intensity of activity slowly= passive/sitting → standing around home → short walks → long walks/ short runs/ gym → hikes/ long runs
    • Expect soreness in the forefoot as toe splay and dormant toe muscles engage
      • Expect soreness in the arch of the foot as dormant arch muscles engage
EXPECTATIONS AND EFFORT
  • Many will notice immediate stability and strength gains from forefoot support, but lasting changes take time
  • Minimum of 6 months for lasting changes to be made
  • Correct Toes is just a tool to help, it won’t fix your toes alone
    • Requires many steps to be taken
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