Educational Articles: Arch Stability

Toe spring is a toe-deforming shoe feature present in most shoes, including athletic shoes. Toe spring is the elevation of your shoe’s toe box above the ground or supporting surface. The current industry standard for toe spring for most types of footwear is 15 degrees. This means that most shoes hold, or immobilize, your toes in an unnatural, extended position. This immobilization is problematic because your toes... 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