Educational Articles: Pronation

Correct Toes eliminates the need for conventional orthotics in most people by enabling the foot arch (i.e., the medial longitudinal arch) to support itself. In general, we DO NOT recommend wearing Correct Toes in combination with orthotics; we instead recommend weaning yourself off orthotics—slowly and progressively—when introducing Correct Toes. Correct Toes toe spacers are, by definition, an orthotic, though conventional custom orthotics are placed under your foot... Read more

If you look at the foot of a young child, you will notice that his or her toes are spaced well apart. The foot of a young child is naturally designed for optimal balance and gait, and if the foot maintains this shape, optimal stride is preserved through old age: a finding observed in barefoot populations the world over. In industrialized societies, however, people spend a lifetime... Read more

In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses how conventional footwear alters normal foot and toe anatomy, leads to excessive pronation, and causes a variety of otherwise preventable foot problems. Learn more about natural foot health and wisdom from Dr. McClanahan, who is one of the most talented, progressive, and naturally-minded foot care specialists in the... Read more

Heel elevation is a design element present in almost every shoe, from dress shoes to work boots to running shoes, though there is little (if any) compelling evidence to account for its inclusion in shoes or other footwear. Most people in the United States and other parts of the world begin wearing shoes when they learn to walk, some even before. Almost all... Read more

Propping up the foot arch is a common approach used by physicians to help treat certain foot and ankle disorders. Arch support is also a design feature commonly touted by shoe manufacturers as beneficial. But we thought it would be helpful to discuss what arch support really means and whether it’s truly necessary—or even desired—in the foot. To understand our arch support philosophy, it’s important to understand... Read more

In this short video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, demonstrates true, anatomically correct foot position and posture. Dr. Ray discusses the effects of conventional footwear on foot arch stability and how some common shoe design features actually work against the inherent strength of the foot to deform and destabilize. Learn more about natural foot structure... Read more

In this video, sports podiatrist and Correct Toes inventor Dr. Ray McClanahan examines pronation and explains the difference between pronation and overpronation. Pronation—the combination of three separate events in the foot and ankle, including subtalar eversion, ankle dorsiflexion, and forefoot abduction—is normal and natural, but it can lead to problems when it becomes excessive. Dr. Ray takes a closer look at what's... Read more

In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, describes the Shoe Liner Test and explains why excessive pronation is such a common problem in our society. The Shoe Liner Test is a simple test that involves pulling the liner out of your shoe (or a shoe that you are... Read more

The idea that the foot’s main arch—the medial longitudinal (ML) arch—needs to be propped up and supported is a long-held belief in the foot care world and the footwear industry. In fact, propping up the ML arch with conventional arch orthotics is a common approach used by physicians to help treat certain foot and ankle disorders and “resolve” inherent foot... Read more

In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses a very common question: “Who should use orthotics?” Dr. Ray explains why conventional arch orthotics are prescribed by many foot care professionals and presents an alternative view on how best to stabilize the foot and ankle using natural (i.e., non-arch orthotic) means. Dr. Ray also describes... Read more