Educational Articles: Hallux Limitus & Rigidus

Hallux is the medical term for the big toe. The big toe is one of the most important parts of the body, as it provides propulsive force during gait and helps stabilize the entire foot and body. The big toe should possess between 50 and 90 degrees of extension—also known as dorsiflexion—if it is healthy and injury free, and a person should be able to move his... Read more

In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, dives deep into the condition called hallux limitus. Hallux limitus is a condition in which the big toe is unable to bend upward (or dorsiflex) to a proper degree. This foot health problem begins early in life in those who wear conventional footwear. Tapering toe boxes and... Read more

In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses the most common causes of foot and toe osteoarthritis. He also reviews common conventional approaches to foot osteoarthritis and compares these with more natural approaches that have proven helpful for his patient base. Learn more about this common problem, and what you can do about it,... Read more

Healthy toes are straight, evenly spaced, and free of the many problems that plague so many people in shod, or shoe-wearing, populations. Most conventional footwear, including running shoes, possesses tapering toe boxes that force the toes into a wedge-like position. This design characteristic, along with heel elevation and toe spring, causes many foot problems and toe deformities over time. Unshod populations, or groups of people who go... Read more