Educational Articles: Ingrown Toenails

Dr. Robyn and I were reminded on a recent hike of the importance of wide toe box footwear and natural toe splay for foot comfort and injury prevention. The combination of Correct Toes toe spacers and men's and women's wide toe box footwear is extremely helpful in preventing the foot and knee problems that plague so many trekkers,... Read more

Ingrown toenails, though not a life-threatening health problem, can cause significant pain or discomfort in the affected toe. In severe cases, the infection caused by an ingrown toenail may spread into the toe bones. Ingrown toenails can affect any of the toes, though the big toe is most vulnerable to this health problem (due to the forces placed on it by the toe boxes of conventional footwear).... Read more

This video discusses ingrown toenails—a common (though not normal) toe problem that's often treated by surgically removing a portion of the affected nail. Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, explains why surgery usually is not necessary in treating ingrown toenails and how a natural approach (i.e., appropriate footwear, toe spacers, etc.) can treat and prevent this... 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