Crooked & Overlapping Toes: Conventional vs. Natural Approaches

In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses the various types of crooked toes... Read more
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Crooked Toes: A collection of conditions characterized by bent toes.
Crooked toes are a common health problem, and there are several different types of crooked toes possible. The specific type of crooked toe a person may develop depends on the degree and direction of deviation in the affected toe’s joints. In some cases, the abnormal toe alignment is not permanent, and the toe may be realigned using natural rehabilitative techniques. Note: Crooked toes, curved toes, and bent toes are extremely rare in shoeless populations or in groups of people who do not wear conventional footwear, with its many injurious design features.
Types of crooked toes include:
Some of the most common signs and symptoms associated with crooked toes, curved toes, and bent toes include:
Inappropriate footwear is one of the leading causes of crooked toes. Shoes that possesses heel elevation, rigid soles, tapering toe boxes, and toe spring force the toes into an unnatural configuration and encourage muscle and tendon imbalances in the foot and lower leg. In some cases, crooked toes may be associated with past foot trauma. Genetics may play a role in this health problem in some individuals too.
A toe spacing product, such as Correct Toes, is a powerful tool that can be worn inside men's and women's foot-healthy shoes, over toe socks, or on bare feet to help realign the toes in their correct anatomical position, strengthen the muscles and tendons that attach to the toes, and increase the stability of the forefoot. Getting the toes spread back out—to the position that nature intended—is fundamental in addressing and preventing all types of crooked toes.
SHOP CORRECT TOESAnother major consideration in straightening out the toes involves adopting and using foot-healthy footwear that allows the foot to function like a bare foot inside the shoe. Conventional shoes, including most running shoes, will hasten the progression of a crooked toe, as the design elements included in most conventional models create an imbalance in the foot flexor and extensor muscles and tendons, as well as an imbalance in the four layers of muscles (aka intrinsic muscles) within the foot. Intrinsic foot muscles help stabilize the toes during walking and standing.
Another helpful item in straightening crooked toes, curved toes, and bent toes is a metatarsal pad. This soft and unobtrusive pad sits just behind the ball of the foot and helps bring the toes back down toward the ground. Combined with toe socks, toe spacers, and foot-healthy footwear, metatarsal pads can produce positive changes in toe alignment. There are two distinct types of metatarsal pads: Stationary (i.e., fixed in the shoe) and mobile (i.e., can be worn on the foot in almost any pair of shoes).
SHOP METATARSAL PADS SHOP INJINJI TOE SOCKSOther helpful natural strategies for crooked toes include:
Individuals who experience any of the above-mentioned crooked toe syndromes should consider visiting a naturally-minded podiatrist or other appropriate foot care professional or scheduling a remote consultation with the foot care professionals at Northwest Foot & Ankle (this is the clinic of Dr. Ray McClanahan, inventor of Correct Toes). A physician can offer additional strategies to help correct or reduce the progression of the crooked toe problem. The longer the crooked toe problem exists, the greater the likelihood it will become permanently rigid and require more extensive—and invasive—treatment, such as surgery.
Surgery, when required, is used to help straighten the crooked toe and balance the pull of tendons surrounding the affected toe joint(s). Pins or wires are sometimes required to keep the toe in its correct position while it is healing. Please note that surgery may not provide a complete correction of the crooked toe and that the problem may recur if a person continues to use the same footwear that contributed to the condition in the first place. Please see our article that lists six ways to restore foot health after surgery for more info on this topic.
Suffering from crooked toes? Sign up for our FREE email course to learn more about this condition as well as natural strategies to help address or prevent crooked toes. View our course list here.
Disclaimer:
The above content is for educational or informational purposes only and is not intended to replace or augment professional medical instruction, diagnosis, or treatment. Read full disclaimer here.$65.00
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In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses the various types of crooked toes... Read more
In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses the foot and toe condition called... Read more