2. Develop Foot-Strengthening Habits
Here are five healthy habits that can help reverse the damage of bent, crooked toes:
- Spend a little time barefoot each day.
- Avoid tight socks or tight stockings.
- Massaging your feet to speed the dissolution of calluses and corns. In addition to hand massages, there are quite a few over-the-counter foot massage tools. Rolling spiky balls under your feet can be therapeutic.
- Try foot-strengthening exercises. One popular technique is to lay a towel on the floor and try picking it up with your toes. It’s easy to do while watching TV!
- Consider consulting with a physical therapist for personally tailored advice on foot stretching and strengthening exercises.
There are also scores of helpful books and videos online that can give you more tips for improving toe health. One of our favorites is the book Whole Body Barefoot: Transitioning Well to Minimal Footwear by renowned biomechanist Katy Bowman. Katy and her certified instructors also teach hands-on workshops across the country focused on restoring foot health. For more info, visit her Nutritious Movement website.
3. Wear Toe Spacers
Toe spacers can be a very effective tool to speed up recovery of damaged toes. However, like with transitioning to minimalist shoes, we recommend introducing them gradually.
Our favorite toe spacers are silicone Correct Toes, invented and tested by Dr. Ray McClanahan DPM. He was astounded at how quickly podiatrists prescribed surgery for foot problems. Dr. McClanahan realized that you can treat bent, crooked toes naturally, so he created Correct Toes for that very purpose.
Why do we like Correct Toes so much? Because they have many advantages to other toe spacers on the market:
- Dr. McClanahan designed Correct Toes using his extensive knowledge of foot anatomy. He thoroughly tested them in medical trials for optimal comfort and effectiveness. Most knock-off brands cannot make this claim. Unfortunately, small differences in the design of toe spacers can have a painful or otherwise detrimental impact on your feet.
- Unlike most other toe spacers, Correct Toes are easily adjustable. In addition to being available in several sizes, they can be modified accommodate special needs. The instructions that come with Correct Toes provide information on how to make these adjustments.
- The flexible silicone design of Correct Toes are extremely versatile. While other toe spacers barely let you stand or walk in them, you can wear Correct Toes during athletic activities.
- Great customer service! Based in Portland, Oregon, the Correct Toes staff work closely with Dr. McClanahan and his clinic. Many of them are medical professionals themselves, so they have encyclopedic knowledge regarding the natural treatment of foot problems. Check out the Correct Toes website for access to their vast knowledge base.
- 4. Wear Metatarsal Pads
Similarly, metatarsal pads can further promote the restoration of natural foot function [source]. Conventional shoes tend to have tapered toe boxes and raised toe springs. These features often result in the arch under the ball of your foot pushing outwards and becoming deformed. You can place metatarsal pads in shoes so that they sit just below the ball of your foot. Doing so helps the metatarsal arch gradually return to it’s natural position.
Dr. McClanahan usually recommends metatarsal pads to his patients for use with Correct Toes. The two work very well together to speed up the recovery process.
For many individuals, the steps above may be enough to reverse damage from bent toes. Or, at least, these steps can help to prevent further damage and alleviate pain. Many of our customers believed they needed surgery to repair their toe issues. Then they found that switching to minimalist shoes, wearing toe spacers, or performing simple exercises were enough.
If your bent or crooked toes are too severe, however, then more drastic treatment may be necessary. Talk to your doctor if you are in constant pain, experiencing severe arthritis, or if the deformation is serious.
Invest in your future health by giving your body the best foundation possible. Take inventory of how strong and straight your toes are. If you have bent, crooked toes, corns, or calluses, take steps now to correct your footing. (Pun intended).
