I’m considering purchasing some correct toes (https://nwfootankle.com/correct-toes) but I’m not sure how much better they would be compared to simple toe spacers? The thing I worry about with correct toes is the “tourniquet” sensation whereas with simple toe spacers they only separated the toes from the sides. Anyone use both?
This is really interesting and I think it makes a ton of sense. When I first had a crash in 2011 and had some nervous system problems (central and peripheral), using vibrams were key to re learning how to walk with a normal gait. Recently having some of the same problems and this could be helpful in regular shoes.
Wow, this guy also ran a 13:56 5000m back in 2000:
https://nwfootankle.com/about/1
I think I am going to contact him since his line of thinking is similar to mine and he’s “one of us”
Dev-
Ray (the guy behind correct toes) is a buddy of mine - I just sent him an email to join the discussion here, if he’s so inclined.
Dev-
Ray (the guy behind correct toes) is a buddy of mine - I just sent him an email to join the discussion here, if he’s so inclined.
Thanks Steffen. I agree with his mindset in terms of what he has written on his website. I think these would do a better job in splaying the metatarsels than the typical met pad in an orthotic. On a side note, I get less knee pain running in vibrams on grass than in padded shoes on grass. That should help seed the discussion! If I could run in shoes like vibrams with more padding that would be gold. But having the toes splayed with these things could do the trick in an Altra or something along those lines.
I’d love it if Ray got on here.
I’d like to ask him some questions about rehabbing some really funky feet.
I read his site and I seem to have many of the problems described.
Particularly interested in what cycling shoes he would recommend for someone using the Correct Toes (if that is even possible or practical).
I’d love it if Ray got on here.
I’d like to ask him some questions about rehabbing some really funky feet.
I read his site and I seem to have many of the problems described.
Particularly interested in what cycling shoes he would recommend for someone using the Correct Toes (if that is even possible or practical).
I am guessing for cycling shoes go an entire size or 1.5 sizes up. Should leave enough space without it getting too sloppy!
Hopefully this thread will continue, have been dealing with foot and toe issues for a while and thought it was basically just from getting so #!+'g old.
I have tried every type of shoe except Vibrams (old heavy’ish guys in Vibrams look particularly sad).
So Correct Toes and or Toe Spacers sound interesting.
I have the correct toes and also yoga toes… save your money and see a massage therapist or reflexologist.
No problem with “tourniquet” here.
Gotta get some Lems shoes to go with the Correct Toes. Shoes with wide toe boxes are awesome. Check out naturalfootgear.com
What problem are you trying to fix?
Hi Athletes! I would be happy to share my personal and clinical experience with Correct Toes with any of you who are curious. I invented Correct Toes to correct my own foot problems, which by extension cured knee and back issues as well. I am trained as a surgeon, but did not want to have surgery on my feet, for fear that I would not be able to run or bike properly again. So, I took a slow, gradual approach, which took years to straighten my feet, but I am still training hard every day at age 49. Whether triathletes realize it or not, all of you are deforming your feet in your cycling and running shoes. Natural human feet are widest at the ends of the toes for life. In America it is normal for us to begin changing the shape of our feet with our shoes by around age 3. Consequently, we do not have many examples of natural shaped feet in America. If you go abroad(I grew up in Africa), you see feet that are widest at the ends of the toes in the oldest of the population. All of our feet are widest at the ball, and not at the ends of the toes, so everybody thinks that is normal.
The reason why this is a problem is because eventually many athletes will develop problems in their feet and bodies that are directly related to the painless deformation of their feet that has occurred over many decades.
Sadly, many people are not properly informed regarding how faulty footwear design is playing into their dysfunction and pain. Oftentimes problems are related to genetics, overtraining, biomechanical impediments, and footwear is ignored.
There is alot of good information regarding this on my website - www.nwfootankle.com. The paper titled “Why Shoes Make Normal Gait Impossible”, is responsible for alot of my thinking on this topic. Written by Dr. William Rossi. There are also 3 other papers he wrote, also on the site. Very eye opening for most athletes.
Good news about Correct Toes, is that you can try them risk free for one month. Rarely do people describe a tourniquet effect, unless they have purchased a size too small for them.
I am happy to discuss feet and footwear in general, but please do not ask me to comment on your specific issues, as it is unprofessional of me to offer medical advice if I haven’t examined you.
I wish each of you good health and many years of joyful activity!
Ray
Interesting, are they something that might help with Hallux Rigidus? I have struggled to run in recent years with Achilles, hip and Hallux Ridgidus / arthritis in the big toe. Got to the point where I will try anything to back multisport racing.
Hi Athletes! I would be happy to share my personal and clinical experience with Correct Toes with any of you who are curious. I invented Correct Toes to correct my own foot problems, which by extension cured knee and back issues as well. I am trained as a surgeon, but did not want to have surgery on my feet, for fear that I would not be able to run or bike properly again. So, I took a slow, gradual approach, which took years to straighten my feet, but I am still training hard every day at age 49. Whether triathletes realize it or not, all of you are deforming your feet in your cycling and running shoes. Natural human feet are widest at the ends of the toes for life. In America it is normal for us to begin changing the shape of our feet with our shoes by around age 3. Consequently, we do not have many examples of natural shaped feet in America. If you go abroad(I grew up in Africa), you see feet that are widest at the ends of the toes in the oldest of the population. All of our feet are widest at the ball, and not at the ends of the toes, so everybody thinks that is normal.
The reason why this is a problem is because eventually many athletes will develop problems in their feet and bodies that are directly related to the painless deformation of their feet that has occurred over many decades.
Sadly, many people are not properly informed regarding how faulty footwear design is playing into their dysfunction and pain. Oftentimes problems are related to genetics, overtraining, biomechanical impediments, and footwear is ignored.
There is alot of good information regarding this on my website - http://www.nwfootankle.com. The paper titled “Why Shoes Make Normal Gait Impossible”, is responsible for alot of my thinking on this topic. Written by Dr. William Rossi. There are also 3 other papers he wrote, also on the site. Very eye opening for most athletes.
Good news about Correct Toes, is that you can try them risk free for one month. Rarely do people describe a tourniquet effect, unless they have purchased a size too small for them.
I am happy to discuss feet and footwear in general, but please do not ask me to comment on your specific issues, as it is unprofessional of me to offer medical advice if I haven’t examined you.
I wish each of you good health and many years of joyful activity!
Ray
Ray, I will be in touch with you and would like to share some personal experiences, but I would like to corroborate a lot of what you are saying. In rural India, where most of the population grows up barefoot or with sandals we see a lot of the same as what you are pointing out in Africa. My personal experience was after a traumatic crash when I returned to running I was having less knee pain with vibrams on grass soccer fields or even on the treadmill than with extremely padded shoes with the feet all cramped up. I also grew up in zero drop soccer cleats and track spikes in the 80’s so going to a zero drop shoe/Vibram was not a huge issue. I think Altra or NB Minimus trail have the right combo with zero drop and a wide forefoot that allows your metatarsels to splay out but adding these Correct Toes may be very helpful.
Basically modern footwear turns our feet into something like an Ungulate like a donkey or horse or goat…just one big apendage where the metatarsels don’t really actively work indepedently. If we were meant to work like that, we also would not have all the muscles in our calves and shins right?
Thanks for posing here, Ray. There are many questions I could ask, but they have mostly been answered in your videos.
So our feet get deformed over many years, and you said that it took years to get your feet right. That’s good info to know because I was getting frustrated with the lack of progress I’ve been making. I guess I’ll stick with it… shoes, pads, toe spacers, stretches.
Yes, they can be helpful for hallux rigidus, if there is still some motion in the toe, and it is not too arthritic. Some of Correct Toes best success stories are with athletes with hallux limitus/rigidus. Best example of success is, Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, director of the Natural Running Center. Had surgery, was told to stop running, found Correct Toes and natural footwear, and won the Air Force marathon a few years back at age 46. You can check him out at www.naturalrunningcenter.com. He only has 10 degrees of motion in both of his big toes, but by re-aligning them, he is pain free and running well.
Yes, your observations are correct. I wish all Americans had the opportunity to see healthy feet in action in other countries. We would realize the great harm we gradually do to our feet by changing them into triangle shaped, insensate clods, with our footwear. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us!
You are welcome! I sure hope you feel better and get the results you want!
I just ordered a set of correct toes.
I have had multiple sesamoid surgeries- 2 left, 1 right.
My right foot feels good but the left foot still niggles a bit.
I suspect the root cause is my funky feet.
High arch and hypermobile. Big toe is angled like some of the pictures on your site. Also have hammer toes.
I am hoping that the correct toes can help my big toe to straighten out so that the foot bears weight in a more proper manner.
I sure hope you have good success with Correct Toes and are able to rid yourself of your foot concerns! Please let us know how you do, and if I can be of further help.
Thanks Ray for replying to my post. I’ve been playing around with simple toe spacers from the drug store and was wondering if you can explain how Correct Toes is different? I’ve tried both the individual ones as well as the “single unit” versions. The single unit spacers fit around the toes very tight which cuts off circulation - how are Correct Toes different?
Thanks again.
Just got my Correct Toes.
Maybe I should post “before” pics of my feet?