Got nasty bunions? Physical therapist reveals a clever trick that can banish them for good
Those who regularly get pedicures are familiar with toe spacers: plastic or foam pads that sit between the toes to prevent nail polish from running.
But Dr. Aaron Horschig, a physical therapist, author and strength coach based in Missouri, has revealed that the tool has another little-known use.
He says they can also be helpful in preventing and treating unsightly bunions.
About a third of Americans have bunions – a bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of the big toe due to excessive compression of the foot bones.
The problem, which can result from wearing tight shoes, can cause bone deformity, pain and stiffness, and there are limited treatments.
In extreme cases, surgery is performed, which carries risks of infection and requires weeks of recovery.
But toe spacers, which cost less than $10 Amazoncan prevent the problem in the first place and even treat it, according to Dr. Horschig.
“I’m a big fan of using toe spacers like Correct Toes, which, like dental braces, help realign the toes with the metatarsals of your foot,” he said in a video on his TikTok channel .
The metatarsals are the long bones at the front of the feet that sit just below the toes.
Bunions, in which the bones in the foot shift and cause a bump on the bottom of the toe, affect one in three Americans at some point in their lives. There are few treatment options other than surgery
According to Dr. HorschigToe spacers can ‘reduce’ the angle of an existing bunion and relieve pain.
This is because over time they widen the top of the foot, forcing the bones to return to a normal position.
The claim appears to be supported by some research.
Toe spacers, or separators, are used during pedicures to keep nail polish from staining — but experts say they also serve a medical purpose
A 2018 study published in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association found that wearing toe spacers for eight months reduced pain and increased flexibility in women with moderate bunions.
Dr. Hoschig offers another tip to return the shape of the foot to normal.
“Just buying wider shoes with a toe box that helps the toes spread outward can reverse the negative reaction,” he says.
‘We wear shoes that are far too narrow and over time our feet adapt to the shape of the shoe.’
Other experts recommend choosing shoes with a wide toe box (not pointed toes) and enough space between the tip of your longest toe and the end of the front of the shoe.