Educational Articles: Toes

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, 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... Read more

A hammertoe is a type of crooked toe that involves unnatural contracture, or bending, of the affected toe. In most cases, a hammertoe is characterized by a toe malposition in which the end of the affected toe points down while the first bone of the same toe—the proximal phalanx—points up. A hammertoe resembles an upside-down letter “v” when viewed from the side. This crooked toe syndrome usually... 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 hammertoes and compares conventional podiatric treatment techniques with natural, preventive, and conservatives techniques. A hammertoe is an upward shifting of the first toe bone, and this shifting, notes Dr. Ray, is caused by two common design features in conventional shoes:... Read more

We often receive the following question (or slight variations thereof) from readers and customers who are interested in determining the proper width of shoe to purchase: I had my foot width measured at a local shoe store and was told that I need a wide shoe. Will the shoes you offer on your site work for me and my feet? First, let me say that conventional foot... Read more

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 tape or blister treatments do you recommend for preventing blisters on long runs? Dr. Ray notes that one of the key strategies for preventing blisters on long runs is to adopt footwear that's shaped like the natural human foot. Other helpful natural... Read more

During the warm weather months, when people are wearing open-toe footwear, take a look around and notice the state and condition of the toes that you see. You'll most likely see a wide variety of toe deformities, ranging from mild and barely perceptible to severe and even shocking. Most people who have worn conventional footwear for decades are bound... 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

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