Do you have shoe shaped feet?

Naturally our feet are shaped like this:

Wide at the top and tapering down to the heel. A baby’s foot is also a great example of this as luckily, they haven’t been altered by footwear and lifestyle yet. Unfortunately, most footwear today is not shaped like a foot but rather encourages the toes to become squished together into a point. Even in footwear that is labelled as “wide fit” as those shoe types don’t account for the width needed at the toe box but rather places the width at the section below this.

In a nutshell, wearing these types of shoes as well as spending lengths of time in pointe shoes or high heels can lead to foot dysfunctions (think bunions and mortons neuromas etc) as well as noticeable changes in the appearance of the foot over time. One useful tool that physios can use in the clinic to help alleviate pain and improve on these dysfunctions are ‘Correct Toes’.

‘Correct Toes’ help splay the toes in the way that nature intended. They work in a similar way to how braces work for teeth. Correct Toes place the toes into optimal alignment and slowly and progressively change the architecture of the foot. The muscles of the foot adapt and strengthen accordingly. These structural changes create a wider base of support, improving balance, proprioception, gait and posture.

We use ‘Correct Toes’ in the clinic for a variety of conditions and have had great results in both eliminating pain and improving function. They encourage the foot to move, flex and bend and as the foot muscles strengthen, the foot is able to support itself, eliminating the need for artificial arch support and orthotics.

So if you’re feet are looking a little sad, then invest in some ‘Correct Toes’ and come in to have them fitted and tailored to you!