Essential Tools For Better Movement & Self-Care
Here are my recommendations for your self-care toolkit.
TOE SPACERS
I no longer sell Correct Toes directly but they are such a useful tool for toe aligning and spacing that I’ve kept the information here for you if you’re in need of some guidance. There are now multiple brands on the market for toe spacing.
Correct Toes Original are unique because they are made from Medical Grade Silicone which is stiffer than the majority of the other brands on the market which are more suited to general toe spacing and splay. If you’re looking for something that helps with toe alignment, bunions, crooked toes, the Correct Toes is the best choice.
For more broad application for increased splay, stretch for stiffness and sore feet, then the toe spacer socks and Wild Toes by TFC are my recommendations.
CORRECT TOES FAQs
Considering buying some CORRECT TOES toe spacers? Check our Frequently Asked Questions for helpful tips on sizing, modification, shoes, orthotics and more.
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With Correct Toes, you can: Relieve foot pain while being active. Align toes back to their natural, anatomical position. Improve strength and flexibility of the toes and feet. Increase circulation to the ends of the toes. Enhance balance and stability.
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Correct Toes help splay the toes in the way that nature intended. Why is this important? We spend a lifetime in footwear, including most athletic footwear, that is too narrow at the ends of the toes. As a result, the shod adult foot shape differs from the unshod adult foot shape (and from the foot shape of infants, who are born with perfect feet).
Correct Toes 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. Toe alignment and foot strength has numerous positive effects on biomechanics, gait and injury prevention.
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It’s not quite that easy, but it’s not complicated either. The whole idea of Correct Toes is to position the toes in the correct way. In addition, it is vital to wear shoes that are completely flat, lightweight, flexible in the sole and sufficiently wide in the toe box, so that the foot can function like a bare foot inside the shoe.
This type of footwear must be used on a regular basis. Unfortunately, such footwear can be difficult to find. For some suggested models, please see our shoe list. Following the above plan, you can expect to see positive results.
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A pedicure set is designed for just that – a pedicure. Pedicure sets space the toes arbitrarily so that, while the person receiving the pedicure is seated, nail polish can be applied. Pedicure sets are not intended as a therapeutic device for repetitive use during activity.
Correct Toes place each toe in a natural position and are designed for use in footwear, during daily and athletic activities. After a break-in period, this position can be held for a long time, and doing so will benefit the user.
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Of course, it will be different for different people. Success with the device depends on many factors, such as a person’s age, how often Correct Toes are used, level of physical activity, how often appropriate footwear is worn, etc.
Most people experience some relief right away, with continued positive results over many months.
For architectural changes to take place, some time and dedication is required. For instance, in attempting to reverse a bunion, SOME movement of the big toe will likely be visible within a few months. Further progressive changes will continue over many months or years. Ultimately, it is an investment in lifelong optimal foot health!
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Yes! Splayed toes positively impact gait, aid balance and redistribute weight. When using Correct Toes during activity, it’s important that the shoe is wide enough in the toe box to accommodate Correct Toes without pinching or rubbing. To test your shoe, please check out the Shoe Liner Test.
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Anyone with diabetes or diminished sensation in the feet should avoid using Correct Toes. Also, anyone with diminished circulation (peripheral arterial disease or “PAD”) should not use Correct Toes.
Please consult your holistically-minded healthcare provider if you are uncertain about whether or not you should use Correct Toes.
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Yes! When you purchase Correct Toes you’ll receive one for each foot.
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Sometimes it helps to compare sizes, especially if you find your normal size is not quite right.
If you would like to compare, please order the additional size you would like to try and we will include a prepaid label for you to return the pair you choose not to keep. Once returned, we will refund the cost of the second pair.
WEARING CORRECT TOES
It might seem like a small change, but wearing toe spacers is a new input for your feet, so time is an essential element. Read the top tips below for gradual transition.
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Correct Toes are reversible! Each individual silicone spacer is identically casted, and they can be used on the right or left foot interchangeably regardless of the raised ‘Correcttoes.com’ marking.
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Correct Toes are placed between the toes and are designed to be worn either barefoot or within naturally shaped footwear. Best results occur when using Correct Toes during daily weight-bearing activities. It’s important to incorporate Correct Toes into your foot care routine slowly and progressively. Begin wearing Correct Toes for only 30 minutes the first day, increasing wear-time in 30-minute increments each consecutive day, to tolerance.
Correct Toes encourage muscles to flex, move and work in new ways. Fatigue, muscle soreness and tenderness are normal during the transition process. Similar to any new activity, soreness should subside while strength gains occur.
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This is a very important question! Unfortunately, almost all the footwear available on the market today does not respect normal and natural foot and toe anatomy.
In a natural shoe, the widest part of the shoe is at the ends of the toes, not at the ball.
The trick to finding appropriate footwear is to make sure that the shoe is the same shape as a natural foot.
The best way to test this is by performing the Shoe Liner Test. To help, we have compiled a Shoe List that highlights healthier-than-usual brands and models.
Always seek shoes that are completely flat, wide in the toe box and flexible in the sole.
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Think of it this way: It takes decades for feet to conform to conventional footwear, in which muscles and tendons are held rigid in stiff foundations, preventing movement and causing atrophy. Over many years, feet weaken and conform to the shape of footwear.
Similar to the progression of starting a new fitness program, aligning and strengthening feet and toes is a slow process. Positive changes require time and are not without a few aches along the way. Anticipate using Correct Toes regularly during the transition to new footwear.
Throughout the first few months, progressive use of the device will begin to yield changes in alignment. After several years of consistent use, feet become stronger.
The long-term goal of Correct Toes is to maintain natural toe position without the use of Correct Toes. Correct Toes acts as a temporary training aid while lower leg musculature and toes return to the proper length-to-tension ratio and alignment, respectively.
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In general, we don’t recommend wearing Correct Toes in combination with orthotics; we instead recommend weaning yourself off orthotics—slowly and progressively—when introducing Correct Toes.
Traditional orthotics provide structure under the arch, preventing foot muscles from flexing and moving and contributing to foot weakness and atrophy.
Correct Toes, in combination with naturally shaped and flexible footwear, will encourage muscular growth and strength. The end goal of using Correct Toes is a stronger, more structurally intact foot that does not depend on any orthotic.
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Correct Toes are designed to be adaptable and customizable. The 1st and 4th pylons are formed with an open, hollow cavity. This cavity can be filled with material to assist in the progressive shifting of the 1st and 5th toes.
A shim is any soft, flexible material that can be used to spread or widen the hollow cavity within the 1st or 4th Correct Toes pylons. Try cutting up a piece of an old shoe liner in inserting this into the slot.* One, two, or even three shims can be added to these cavities over time to help “bulk up” the spacers.**
*We recommend at least 3 months of progressive and consistent Correct Toes use before trying this modification.
**Shim material is not provided with the purchase of Correct Toes.
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Download the Correct Toes Owners Manual
Correct Toes® The Original
The #1 Podiatrist Recommended Method for Natural Foot Alignment
For 25 years, Correct Toes® has been helping people align, strengthen, and restore their foot health without surgery or invasive treatments, curing the most common foot conditions:
Invented by Dr. Ray McClanahan, DPM, Correct Toes® are a device made from flexible, medical grade silicone designed to encourage your toes back into their natural alignment.
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Medical-grade silicone
Can be worn in natural foot-shaped shoes or barefoot
Modifiable for unique feet (bunions, hammertoes)
30-day money-back guarantee
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Relieve foot pain while being active
Align toes to their natural position
Improve strength of the toes and foot
Increase circulation to the ends of the toes
Enhance balance and stability
We all have very different feet, in shape, size, toe alignment, and splay. Conventional shoes are mass produced with standard sizing which is not in favour of the natural foot shape we are born with.
Fortunately there are new shoes on the market with foot function and style in mind and there is a growing movement for change in the footwear world.
I've compiled a list of barefoot and minimal shoe brands that work well with Correct Toes and promote healthy foot mechanics. See below.
Barefoot Shoes Brands & Suppliers
Mats, Balls, Bolsters
If you want to feel like stretching out like a starfish when you lie down on your mat, I can recommend the Airex Corona 200 mat. It is luxurious and feels like an invitation to spread out when you lie down. Highly recommend for this factor! It is more bulky to take to class BUT worth every penny for that feeling when you first lie down.
If you like standing work and balance is something you want to practice, the Naboso textured mat is brilliant. Made from the same sole activation technology that they use for their insoles, I really like using the Noboso mat for the direct feedback you get in all standing and all fours positions. Great for yoga with added sense of the ground. Work on your foot texture exposure while you practice - it’s a no brainer in my opinion for deepening your awareness and contact with the ground through your soles. Also recommended for neurological impairment in the feet if you experience impaired sensation, this could be a tool for added nerve stimulation while loading upright.
Inflated ball 23cm. I like the ones supplied by Yogamatters because they are soft, pliable and slightly tacky on the surface helping with myofascial release and light traction on the skin. Can be inflated fully for firmer surface or slightly deflated for softer contact. A versatile and reassuring prop for constructive rest and restorative practice. I use these in many of my classes included in the library. Great for abdominal work and nervous system down regulation.
YogaTuneUp Therapy Balls, Alpha Ball and Gorgeous balls. Fantastic balls to have at home and take away with you. The Therapy Balls fit in your handbag and would be a great addition to your office tools. Versatile in use for massage, trigger point therapy, tension release and getting into hard-to-reach areas for deeper proprioceptive feedback and myofascial stretch. Essential tools in my opinion. I use these for feet, knees, hips, shoulders, jaw, abdomen, lower back, and all over.
Bolsters - specifically the rectangular ones are a fantastic addition to your whole body restoration kit. Perfect for opening the chest in a reclined position and releasing hip tension. I once used 4 bolsters to create a cocoon for a client who was suffering from a recent loss. Bolsters are a low-impact, high-return prop that when used skilfully are a key part of constructive rest, whole-body down regulation and REST. I like the rectangular ones from Yogamatters.
Need Guidance?
If you're unsure where to start with foot health, my Feet, Legs, Hips & Balance Online class is a great place to learn practical techniques.
