Natural Foot Pain Relief

Foot pain is extremely common today. And, it’s thought that many foot problems have their origin in our modern, bulky footwear.

Modern footwear is narrow and rigid; many experts now think this is why people are having more and more foot pain, along with ankle, knee and back pain. In fact, the number of people with these problems in the U.S. far outnumbers those in other parts of the world where people consistently wear minimal footwear, either going barefoot or using simple flip-flops and sandals.

Why We Have Foot Pain

The normal position of our feet is that the toes are slightly spread apart, and lay straight on the ground. Splayed toes that lie flat assist us in keeping our balance and to maintain an efficient stride.

But, the way modern shoes fit causes the foot’s natural shape to change over a relatively short period of time. Narrow toe boxes squeeze the toes together, so they lose their natural splay. When this happens, the muscles of the feet and toes don’t work properly together; the toes then begin to lift off the ground (due to muscle imbalances) and then our gait (the way we walk) and balance become abnormal.

Additionally, almost all modern shoes have a heel on them which raises the heel about the ball of the foot, causing the toes to become bent upward and squeezed together. After some time, the foot is now deformed beyond its original shape and we then begin to experience issues in the foot, knee, hip and even low back.

Now What?

The answer isn’t necessarily more surgery, anti-inflammatory drugs or specialized shoe orthotics. The answer lies in treating the cause - restoring the feet back to their natural shape and thereby eliminating the issues of imbalance in the foot and toes.

We’re big fans (and long time users) of the Correct Toes spacer.  It works by gently spreading the toes back to their natural shape and correct position. When the toes are restored to their natural, original position, this in turn improves proprioception (how the brain perceives where the feet are) and this improves balance and muscle function.

Our clinical experience has shown repeatedly that when the foot is restored to its natural shape, foot pain is relieved (which can also be the origin of several ankle, knee, hip and low back problems).

Correct Toes work best in shoes with a low heel (more of a flat surface for the foot) and a wider toe box. Looks for brands like Lems or Xero. 

Additional Help

In addition, metatarsal pads can be worn with Correct Toes to assist with the return to proper foot anatomy and function.

Metatarsal pads are designed to support the anatomically correct position of the metatarsal bones (bones of the foot). They work by gently lifting and spreading the metatarsal joints and allow the fat pad beneath these joints to return to its normal location. The fat pad protects the delicate nerves and bones of this area.

Metatarsal pads are self-adhesive, waterproof and last quite a long time even in the sweatiest running shoes.

Many foot, leg and knee issues can be corrected and prevented when the foot is allowed to return to its natural shape.

Ligament restore is helpful for healing ligament and tendon injuries as well as overuse or stress-related injuries like tendonitis, bursitis, and old ankle injuries. 

Phytoprofen is a great natural anti-pain reliever that’s helpful to use while the feet are being restored back to their natural position.

Here’s a detailed video covering how Correct Toes work.

Browse below and view our selection of natural products for foot pain relief.