Correct Toes® The Original Toe Spacer

Causes

Bunions are first and foremost shoe induced; babies are not born with bunions. This deformation slowly and progressively forms as the individual wears footwear with a tapered toe box. A common misconception is that bunions are hereditary, and while the bunion itself is not genetic, there are certain soft tissue principles that can impact bunion development within family lines. For example, genetic factors control foot width, as well as soft tissue flexibility and integrity, leading conventionally shaped footwear to have a greater impact on individuals with wider feet.

Signs & Symptoms

Bunions are an often painful condition that can lead to instability of the 1st ray and the medial longitudinal arch. Some of the most frequently experienced signs and symptoms associated with bunions, besides pain, include:

• Redness and/or callus formation around the bunion
• Numbness
• Bursitis

Natural Remedies & Treatment

Bunions often respond to conservative care measures and should always be treated by a qualified healthcare professional in a timely and appropriate manner. Conservative treatment for bunions usually involves the following:

• Aligning the toes with toe spacers for bunions like Correct Toes
• Performing range of motion exercises and tissue releases like the Bunion Stretch
• Wearing shoes that are flat, flexible and widest at the ends of the toes.

Causes

Inappropriate footwear is the leading cause of different types of crooked toes. Footwear with elevated heels, rigid soles, tapered toe boxes, and toe-spring forces toes into unusual positions, encouraging muscle or tendon imbalances. Curved toes may be associated with past foot trauma.

Signs & Symptoms

The most frequently experienced symptoms associated with crooked toes include:

• Toe pain, burning, or irritation when wearing shoes
• Skin thickening
• Inflammation and redness
• Toe contracture

Natural Remedies & Treatment

A podiatrist or other appropriate healthcare professional can provide strategies to help reduce the progression of your crooked toe problem or advise adductovarus toe treatment. Physical therapy, toe joint manipulation, and stretching of the muscles and tendons surrounding toes may provide some reduction of the deformity. Common treatment strategies for this health problem include:

• Toe Extensor Stretch
• Metatarsal Pads
• Footwear that is flat, widest at the ends of the toes, and flexible
• Aligning toes with a toe-spacer like Correct Toes

Causes

Nerves become symptomatic if deprived of bloodflow or if compressed. The enlargement of a nerve is a protective response to ongoing compression and friction when the forefoot is squeezed within conventionally shaped footwear. These symptoms are magnified if the shoe also elevates the heel and lifts and squeezes the toes. In addition to unnatural footwear, other factors that may contribute to neuroma include:

• Bunions, hammertoes, and other forefoot problems
• Excessively high foot arches

Signs & Symptoms

• Some of the most common signs and symptoms of a neuroma include:
• Burning, stinging, stabbing, or shooting pain
• Tingling of the forefoot or toes
• Foot cramping or numbness
• The sensation that you are walking on a lump

Natural Remedies & Treatment

Naturally shaped footwear that is flat, widest at the ends of the toes, and flexible. This will prevent squeezing and compression to already irritated nerve.

• Toe spacers for Morton’s neuroma, like Correct Toes, increases the volume and space between the toes
• Metatarsal Pads will encourage top-of-foot lengthening and relaxing
• Stretches like the Toe Extensor Stretch or Hammertoe Stretch

Causes

While commonly known as Plantar Fasciitis, an early 2003 study by Dr. Harvey Lemont, DPM confirmed that there is no inflammatory cause or involvement in this condition. Rather, the cause plantar fascia pain is due to a lack of consistent blood flow to the plantar fascia by the tibialis posterior artery.

This artery is limited or shunted as the big toe (Hallux) is compressed and elevated in modern-day footwear and running shoes. Additionally, when the foot is consistently supported in conventional footwear, muscles atrophy and lengthen, placing additional stress and impact on the plantar fascia.

Rather than being ‘too tight’ the plantar fascia is chronically extended, and needs to be relaxed.

Plantar Fasciosis is prolonged when improperly treated with methods that assume inflammation. Treatments like Ice, Stretching, The Strasborg Sock, Night Splits, etc. will further cause the plantar fascia to strain, and don’t address blood flow.

Signs & Symptoms

Common signs and symptoms include pain, and tenderness of the plantar fascia, primarily following periods of inactivity or rest when blood flow is decreased.

Natural Remedies & Treatment

For a comprehensive understanding about Plantar Fasciosis and Cure details, check out “Treatment of Plantar Fasciosis,” written by Dr. Glenn Ingram, ND and our own Dr. Ray McClanahan, DPM. A brief list of treatments include:

• Naturally shaped footwear that is flat, widest at the ends of the toes, and flexible. This will prevent stretching the bottom of the foot and allow for natural toe alignment.
• Correct Toes help naturally position the Hallux, toe spacers for plantar fasciitis decrease strain on the plantar fascia and compression on the tibialis posterior artery.
• Metatarsal Pads will encourage top-of-foot lengthening and relaxing of the plantar fascia
• Stretches like the Toe Extensor Stretch to relax the plantar fascia

Causes

Hammertoes are the result of a muscular imbalance between the long extensor tendons across the top of the foot, and the short arch intrinsic muscles and flexor tendons on the bottom of the foot. With years of wearing conventional footwear where the heels are elevated, toes are lifted up and squished together, the lesser toes are held in an unnatural position. Shoes that are too small may also force your toes into a curled position. Over time, your toe tendons adjust to this positioning, causing your toe or toes to hold a hammered shape. While commonly seen within family lines, a hammertoe is not innately genetic. There is, however, a genetic component for the ability of certain tendons to become contractured and tight if held improperly within footwear.

• Pain at the top of the bent toe from footwear pressure
• Pain at the base of the toe, at the metatarsophalengeal joint
• Corns on the top of your bent toe
• Redness and swelling in your affected area
• Decreased joint range of motion in your affected toe joints

Signs & Symptoms

Hammertoe flexion may be reducible or flexible, and can also be very stiff or rigid. The following symptoms can be experienced in both a flexible or rigid hammertoe;

• Pain and inflammation, commonly located at the base of the 2nd toe
• Redness of the skin overlying your affected joint
• The sensation that you are walking on a stone
• Nerve sensations like burning, stinging or numbness

Natural Remedies & Treatment

Conservative treatment may be helpful, or fully corrective for a flexible hammertoe.

• A Correct Toes toe spacers for hammertoe will encourage natural alignment of the toe
• Metatarsal Pads will encourage top-of-foot lengthening and relaxing
• Stretches like the Toe Extensor Stretch or Hammertoe Stretch
• Avoiding any stretch or motion that lifts the toes into dorsiflexion. (ex. lunges, squats, and certain yoga positions)

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