Does Correct Toes Need to Sit at the Base of the Toes to Be Effective?

Some Correct Toes wearers may find that the spacers tend to sit a little further out on the toes, toward the ends of the toes, and this is perfectly fine. This does not in any way impact the effectiveness of the device or (for most people) how comfortable it feels on the toes. Many of the images showing the spacers in use have the device positioned near the base of the toes, but this is more a function of the model's foot shape and current degree of toe splay—those who have worn the device longer may find that the spacers naturally sit closer to the base of the toes—than how the device necessarily must rest on the toes.

So, while the spacers don't need to be rooted at the base of the toes to be effective, there are a few modifications you can make to the device to encourage them in that direction, should you desire to do so. The first modification involves removing the 1st and 4th pylon nubs that project toward the base of the toes. This should permit the spacers to sit a bit lower on your toes and can be helpful if you plan on wearing the device on your bare toes for longer periods. The second helpful modification involves using a small hole punch to create a circular hole in the upper and lower bridges (above and below the toes, respectively). This modification is particularly helpful for individuals with wider toes who wish to shift the natural resting place of the spacers a bit closer to the base of the toes.

In some cases, swapping sizes of Correct Toes can indeed be helpful, though it depends on your unique toe alignment, toe length and width, and foot shape. Because every set of feet is a bit different, we prefer to evaluate this on a case-by-case basis. In that vein, Correct Toes wearers are welcome to send in images of the device in use (to info@naturalfootgear.com), and we can assess and offer feedback on how the device is sitting on the toes and whether modifications or a sizing change might be helpful for improving the fit and feel of the appliance.