Here’s a common scenario some of you may find yourself in: It’s been a few months since you last pulled on your athletic shoes, and you’ve been wearing conventional shoes at work that meet the office dress code but are kind of constricting. There is a big annual walking or running event coming up in the not-too-distant future that you always participate in, or you’ve recently discovered a new event...
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In this informative video, Dr. Ray McClanahan—a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes—discusses (and demonstrates!) a helpful manual technique for stretching and releasing the soft tissues associated with a bunion deformity. This technique can be used by healthcare providers for their patients, or it can be used by patients as a self-care technique at home. Here’s a quote from Dr. Ray that debunks a...
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What if there was a way to reduce your chances of knee osteoarthritis and numerous foot and ankle problems? What if this approach was simple, logical, and cost-effective? What if it could address a wide variety of conditions, from joint pain to bunions to neuromas to ingrown toenails, as well as prevent these conditions from occurring? What if the philosophy was completely rational, as well as being backed by scientific...
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There are many common causes of foot pain, especially in runners—plantar fascia problems, sesamoiditis (irritation of small bones under the base of the big toe), heel spurs, and Achilles tendinosis among them. Ingrown toenails and bunions may also cause foot pain. Fractures and other traumatic injuries can cause foot pain, too. The exercises described below may help rehabilitate your foot, improve its function, and reduce pain, especially when performed in...
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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 wearing shoes with...
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In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, shares helpful tips on how to improve foot circulation (and offers suggestions on how to avoid common causes of poor circulation). Dr. Ray also highlights the importance of using products, such as warm and cool therapy gels, to enhance foot and toe circulation. Circulation is just one of the many...
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Products offered by Natural Footgear are intended to improve your quality of life, reduce your likelihood of experiencing common foot and lower extremity problems, and address the underlying cause of your foot pain or discomfort. Many people derive significant benefit from our products and information, but the use of these things does not guarantee a favorable health outcome and should not replace the advice provided to you by your physician....
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In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, demonstrates a two-part stretch that can be used to help rehabilitate hammertoes and restore toe alignment. Hammertoes are caused by an imbalance between toe flexor and extensor tendons. The stretches shown in this video help restore tendon balance and realign the toes to the position that nature intended.
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Can applying heat to the plantar fascia (in combination with proper footwear and Correct Toes), facilitate healing of plantar fasciosis? And since plantar fasciosis is due to insufficient bloodflow, does this mean that icing the plantar fascia should be avoided? Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, tackles these questions in this short yet informative video. Learn more about hot...
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This insightful video offers several simple and effective techniques you can perform to keep your feet healthy while you're at work. These techniques include going barefoot in your office as often as possible, bringing flats or sandals into your workplace, keeping some foot massage tools under your desk, and performing the Big Toe Stretch and Toe Extensor Stretch as well as other exercises that help strengthen the intrinsic foot muscles.
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In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, answers the following question: What are your favorite ways to strengthen intrinsic foot muscles? Dr. Ray notes that the intrinsic foot muscles (aka plantar arch muscles) are a group of muscles that originate at the heel bone and attach to the toes. He also emphasizes the importance of properly aligning...
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Many people are aware that a transition period is required when switching from conventional shoes to minimalist shoes (now sometimes referred to as “functional footwear”). In fact, this is one of the most common topics we hear about from patients and customers. Most people want to know the proper protocol for transitioning to men's or women's foot-healthy footwear—shoes, boots, or sandals that are widest at the ends of the toes,...
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Your ability to successfully navigate your way through life, in a physical sense, largely depends on the functional capabilities of your feet, and whether or not your feet can connect with the ground in a way that produces efficient, pain-free motion and movement. In order to realize the inherent potential of your feet to serve this important role, it’s crucial that you train them effectively, in a manner that optimizes...
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Your ability to competently compete or participate in your preferred sports or athletic activities largely depends on your ability to adapt and react to the terrain upon which you traverse and the conditions you encounter. In order to reduce the likelihood of injuries and perform at your highest level, it’s absolutely vital that your feet are as fit as possible, so that they can help you successfully navigate any situation...
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Take a moment to examine your fingers. They are strong, flexible, and have good motor coordination—similar in many ways to the toes. Of course, fingers and toes are not the same thing, but imagine what it would be like if you put your hands in boxing gloves all day long and couldn’t use your fingers to grip, type, write, or play music or sports. It would be strange, right? Well,...
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Your feet play a vital role in your musculoskeletal system. They absorb your footfalls, efficiently transform potential energy into movement, and help dictate the position of your knees, hips, and spine. Many long-term joint and soft tissue problems originate at the foundation of the body—in the feet—and that’s why healthy foot form and function are so incredibly important. This applies both to athletes and to anyone who simply enjoys being...
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The ToePro foot and ankle exercise platform, created by the legendary Dr. Tom Michaud—chiropractor and author of the influential textbook Human Locomotion: The Conservative Management of Gait-Related Disorders—is designed to enhance musculoskeletal function by exercising the muscles of the foot and lower leg in their lengthened positions. Research shows that, in addition to improving agility, running speed, and horizontal jump distance, foot strengthening exercises can also prevent falls in the...
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The Human Locomotion Two-to-One Ankle Rockboard, created by the renowned Dr. Tom Michaud, is designed to strengthen the muscles of your lower legs, fortify your ankles against injury, improve your balance, and help you achieve or maintain full ankle range of motion. One of the most common ways to improve ankle function is to use ankle rockboards. However, most rockboards pivot around a central pivot point that causes the board...
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Wobble boards have long been used in physical therapy clinics and other healthcare settings as a tool for improving patients’ balance and ankle stability. These boards are often used in a home-based setting, too, by those seeking improved balance and foot and musculoskeletal function. What separates the Naboso Kinesis Board from other wobble boards is the fact that it intentionally focuses on micro-wobble perturbations to stimulate the nerves of the...
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Feet are a part of the body that sometimes go neglected. But it's important to show your feet the affection and attention they deserve. Loving your feet means appreciating their incredible and brilliant design and caring for your them in a way that supports and encourages their long-term health. Understanding the numerous structures and unique architecture of your feet can help you better appreciate the amazing work your feet accomplish...
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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 the architectural principle...
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Muscle cramps are sudden, involuntary spasms of one or more muscles that may occur while exercising or at night, during sleep. Muscle cramps typically last for a few seconds to several minutes. Common causes of muscle cramps, including foot muscle cramps, include the following: Muscle strains, dehydration, mineral depletion, and insufficient circulation. Several holistic remedies for foot muscle cramps may be effective. Massage therapy is an often helpful remedy for...
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In the world of healthcare, there are no panaceas, or cure-alls. But a few simple strategies can have profound and lasting effects on your health. When it comes to building and maintaining foot and toe health, one simple action stands out above most others: Realigning your big toe to the position that nature intended. Restoring your big toe so that it’s in line with its corresponding metatarsal bone is one...
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A lot of folks write in with questions about foot and toe surgery and what alternatives might be available for those who wish to avoid these procedures. We also get a lot of questions from people who've already had foot or toe surgery (or who are scheduled for a procedure), wondering if natural foot care methods might be effective in preventing a recurrence of their problem. Some folks wonder, too,...
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The very best foot pads are the ones that nature gave us (i.e., the ones already built into our feet), such as the forefoot fat pad and the calcaneal fat pad. But for most of us who have spent a lifetime shod, our foot pads are not properly positioned (or conditioned) to play the role they were intended to play. In order to get the “built-in” foot pads doing what...
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Keeping your feet dry is important in preventing blisters, warts, and fungal skin and nail problems. Consider incorporating the following tips into your daily routine to keep your feet dry and your foot health hygiene optimized: Remove the liners from your shoes; place your shoes next to a heat source to encourage complete drying; dry your feet thoroughly after bathing and/or swimming, especially between your toes; wear Cool-Max or wool...
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The Toe Extensor Stretch—a simple stretch of the toe extensor muscles and tendons—is perhaps the single most important stretch or exercise for foot health. Most conventional shoes possess about 15 to 20 degrees of toe spring, or upward toe ramping, which, along with heel elevation, creates imbalances in the flexor and extensor muscles and tendons that act on the foot. Overly tight toe extensor muscles and tendons may lead to...
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The need for natural and conservative alternatives to conventional foot and toe treatments has never been greater. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, approximately 43.1 million Americans have foot problems, and the cost of foot surgery to correct problems associated with improper footwear—bunions, hammertoes, corns and calluses, among others—is about $2 billion per year. The cost rises to $3.5 billion when you factor in lost work time for...
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Certain foot exercises, along with appropriate footgear, can help rehabilitate your feet (including your toes) by stretching tight muscles and strengthening weak ones. Helpful foot exercises restore a dynamic balance between your foot and toe flexor and extensor muscle groups as well as integrity to the tissues (i.e., muscles, tendons, fascia, etc.) that act upon or within your feet. In this blog post, we share with you video demonstrations of...
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Attention and time given to natural foot health concepts and activities can yield profound foot health benefits, both for foot injury prevention and improved quality of life. Caring for your feet and allowing them to function the way nature intended can keep you pain-free and performing the activities you love most. In most cases, the answer to long-term foot health is simple and involves removing the impediments to optimal foot...
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