Educational Articles: Topics

Correct Toes, a toe spacing device made of flexible and durable medical grade silicone, is a small but mighty ally when it comes to achieving and restoring optimal foot health. It's a natural alternative to the most commonly prescribed foot care products—such as arch orthotics and motion control footwear—as well as surgical procedures, and it accomplishes major foot health... Read more

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... Read more

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.... Read more

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... Read more

In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, examines foot cramps and discusses the most common medical reasons for this foot health issue, including electrolyte abnormalities, poor circulation, medication side effects, and various nerve problems. Dr. Ray also notes that the most common cause of foot cramps is conventional... Read more

Being in the business of foot-healthy shoes and natural footgear, one question we're often asked by customers and readers of our blog is the following: “What do you think about those toe shoes?” Those toe shoes, of course, being the distinctive and famous Vibram FiveFingers! We have a long personal history with FiveFingers shoes that stretches back over... 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

Hiking—in all its many manifestations—is a hugely popular outdoor pastime, and almost everyone seems to have an opinion about what kind of footwear is best for this beloved activity. This article takes a closer look at hiking boots and discusses some of the most common misconceptions about this important type of footwear. We debunk the biggest hiking boot... 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

Despite fluctuations in the footwear industry (such as the relatively recent embrace of “maximalist” shoes by manufacturers), the interest in more minimalist footwear continues, with many consumers wanting to try something new and novel. More and more minimalist footwear companies are popping up, and many conventional shoe manufacturers are still offering “minimalist” models for the subset of their... Read more