In summer, when feet are bare or in summer shoes, we can often see that toes are twisted or pushed on one another. This is not only an aesthetic problem, but also can cause discomfort and even pain. In addition, if the problem is in one part of foot, the patient should immediately think what to do, as the overload can affect other parts of body as well.

Deformation of toes is caused by heredity and different diseases, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, but the most common cause is inappropriate shoes – smaller, with tight toe-cap, and with high heels. This is particularly characteristic to young women who are afraid to be unsympathetic with grandma-like shoes. Scandinavian countries and Germany, taking care of foot comfort and health, has completely different shoe-wearing culture. A lot of modern shoes should have an indication: “Dangerous for health!” similarly as packs of cigarettes. Of course, shoes like these could be worn on some cultural events, but if the woman wears high-heel shoes every day, the front part of her foot, bones, and muscles are overloaded.

It is not recommended to wear flats with straps between toes for long time, as in order to hold these shoes on feet, muscularity of feet has to be constantly strained. Constant strain causes an overload in some places, which can encourage unwanted changes in the course of time. Not only for strengthening of health, but also for prophylaxis of feet problems, it is recommended to walk barefoot on sand, spruce or pine needles, gravel, or cobbles, as irritating feet, muscles are being toned. Even if you do not have complaints, after prolonged standing or walking, when feet are tired, it is recommended to stretch and loosen feet and toes each morning and evening. There are also special exercises, which can help you to relax your feet.

When feet cause problems

Usually problems start to appear when, taking a step, the foot tumbles inwards. This position can be determined by habits, flatfoot, or weakness of fibula back muscles. If the person walks approximately 3000 – 10000 steps per day, performing this incorrect move, the joint of big toe and some places in the foot are overloaded. In order to avoid deformations and further progress of them, it is important to wear orthopedically formed shoes, which have straight internal side and in which toes are not constricted. It is recommended to wear shoes, which do not have heels higher than 3-4 centimetres. If problems are already here, it is recommended to prefer soft shoes with high and wide toe-cap.

The most common problem – pushed bones of toes or bunions

Usually the big toe or the first toe twists first. Not always a displaced bone causes pain – it can also cause the pain of second toe. The problem becomes aggravated when the support of foot is incorrect. We can never know, whether changes will progress or not, because it depends on whether the person will expose itself to the risk of further deformations or will visit some specialists in order to solve the problem.

The specialist will check the movement of toe and will evaluate whether the toe is not turned around its axis. If the joint is moving, it is possible to help by using appropriate shoes, orthopaedic insoles, special splints as well as muscle-strengthening exercises. In cases of bunions some people are using silicone splints in order to cure deformations, but in the case of severe deformation they are unhelpful. The amount of bone can be reduced only in surgical way, first of all performing dynamic podometry tests, where the specialists evaluates the gait of patient and the load of feet. In order to hold the straightened finger in the right position, the patient has to take into account the doctor’s instructions, train the foot, wear a suitable footwear, and use orthopaedic insoles.