Popular Q&A: Foot Rehabilitation

Are Chiropractic Foot Adjustments Helpful?

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

Are chiropractic foot adjustments helpful?

Chiropractic manipulative therapy (CMT) involves the application of pressure to a specific joint or set of joints in the body (by a chiropractic physician) in order to improve the alignment and function of that joint or joints, or to reduce pain or discomfort in that region. When most people think of CMT, they think of manual (aka osseous) adjustments delivered... Read more

Are There Any Exercises to Remove Bunions Instead of Surgery?

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

Are there any exercises to remove bunions instead of surgery?

The short answer is yes! But this depends on the severity of the bunion deformity and how long the problem has existed before beginning a bunion rehabilitation program. In our experience, we have found that the Big Toe Stretch is a helpful first-line exercise in achieving bunion correction. Stretching the tight muscles and tendons on... Read more


Can Flat Feet Be Turned Into Arches Through Foot Exercises?

Posted By Robyn Hughes, ND

Can flat feet be turned into arches through exercise?

In most cases, yes! In our experience, we’ve found that a combination of certain foot exercises and proper foot and toe positioning is a helpful and effective way to build or restore your main foot arch: the medial longitudinal arch. Many people who have flat feet benefit from exercises that return the big toe to its... Read more

Can Using Wide Toe Box Footwear Alone Help Restore Proper Toe Splay?

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

Can using wide toe box footwear alone help restore proper toe splay?

Getting into a pair of men's or women's wide toe box shoes (specifically, shoes that are widest at the ends of the toes, not the ball of the foot) is vitally important in preventing additional toe deformities and in creating the circumstances that allow for true toe rehabilitation. So, a wide toe box... Read more


How Can I Exercise if I Have Plantar Fasciitis?

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

How can I exercise if I have plantar fasciitis?

In most cases, the pain or discomfort associated with plantar fasciitis is usually sufficient to thwart participation in athletic activities. Still, athletes who experience this problem may wish to continue exercising while the condition heals, and this may be possible, depending on the severity of the plantar fascia pain and what steps are taken to address... Read more

How Can I Treat Numbness in My Second Toe?

Posted By Robyn Hughes, ND

How can I treat numbness in my second toe?

Numbness in the feet, including the second toe, may be the result of nerve impingement or nerve damage, and it can be caused by numerous health problems, including diabetes, Buerger's disease and other circulatory problems, vitamin B12 deficiency, and interdigital neuromas, among other causes. Diabetes is a common cause of foot numbness, and nerve damage is... Read more


How Do I Fix My Flat Feet?

Posted By Robyn Hughes, ND

How do I fix my flat feet?

Flat feet is among the most common foot ailments in adults and occurs when the tendons binding the foot together become loose. There are various causes of flat feet, including tendon injuries, neuromuscular disorders, conditions causing extremely flexible soft tissues, and tight achilles tendons (also known as equinogenic flat feet). In rare cases, flat feet may be caused... Read more

How Do Metatarsal Pads Help Restore Proper Forefoot Fat Pad Positioning?

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

How do metatarsal pads help restore proper forefoot fat pad positioning?

Two of the main metatarsal pad functions—restoring proper forefoot fat pad positioning and spreading out the transverse foot arch—are quite independent. In the case of the former, it's really the toe spring built into conventional footwear—and the associated toe flexor/extensor muscle imbalance it creates—that's responsible for shifting the fat pad to a position further... Read more


How Do Metatarsal Pads Work?

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

How do metatarsal pads work?

Metatarsal pads may be small and unobtrusive, but they are mighty when it comes to aiding the foot and addressing a variety of foot ills. The forefoot fat pad—a natural structure in all feet—is intended to sit underneath the ball of the foot and cushion and cradle the metatarsal heads at the point where they contact the ground. Wearing conventional... Read more

How Do You Prevent a Bunion From Getting Worse?

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

How do you prevent a bunion from getting worse?

A natural approach to bunion rehabilitation can, in many cases, be very helpful in preventing the deformity from getting worse, though this always depends on the severity of the bunion and how long the problem has existed before beginning a foot and toe rehabilitation program. In our experience, we have found that the Big Toe Stretch... Read more