Why should you wear toe spacers?
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- čas přidán 20. 03. 2020
- The following is a short video that outlines why toe spacers can help improve and maintain good foot health. Please understand that toe spacers and the shoes discussed in this video can cause discomfort with inappropriate or overuse. For this reason please consult a professional before proceeding with both toe spacers and barefoot type shoes.
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Short foot and toe intrinsic muscle exercises
• Intrinsic Foot Exercis...
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1st toe extension mobility
• Mobility Exercise for ...
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For more exercises check out my CZcams Channel, Instagram @drdanielbirch or at avitahealth.ca
![Top 5 Barefoot Shoes LIES! [Plantar Fasciitis, Bunions & Flat Feet]](/img/n.gif)
this man doesn't have a foot fetish, he has a foot passion
No replies?
Amen
no cap
Hallelujah😹
Feetish, not fetish.
It's so annoying that some of the most basic things in human body (spine, feet posture, basic dietary health) are completely ignored and denied in modern society
The way that desks and computer mouses are designed destroys your body so quickly. Idk why we just accept it. For some reason the computer mouses that are designed to not destroy your wrist are insanely overpriced shells over a $5 mouse and suck majorly as a result.
Spine, how?
@@lobsterbark What kind of desks are good? Angled ones or something? Please let me know!
@@sandersson1 Most desks force you to put your arms up too high. This is probably because the arm rests in many chairs get in the way. Your arms should be as low as possible, basically at the same level as being in your lap.
@@lobsterbark we accept it because we have to work and our bosses don't care lol. I literally developed carpal tunnel when at a desk job and had to use my sick days to recover. But my boss wanted me to keep doing what I was doing and work faster afterwards.
This actually makes a lot of sense. My whole life I’ve mostly worn flip flops so my feet never got ‘narrow’. Every time I’ve tried to buy tennis shoes I thought my feet were just really wide! Turns out I’m the normal one haha
Same! I get laughed at for always wearing sandals but I don’t care anymore because it could be worse haha
When you get shoes they can come in "wide" and that's a lot closer to how your feet go naturally.
Me too, haha, whenever I go wear sport shoes I’m like, this is the only time feet, this pain will end soon.
Dansk
I wish. My feet are so narrow and my toes are so close together I get a lot of foot pain
This is another reason why we have to return to monke quickly, we need to be able to use the feet and the toes again.
and out backs would be so grateful too!
lol why is this so funny
Im already on it, monkey mode activated. I can use my feet like hands, opening door knobs , folding socks, kinda weird to admit, but I’m a little bit proud of it
Leave the city and live in the woods .
Use toe spacers
Knees over toes
Primal movements
Agility training
I will throw myself into the crucible with the knowledge passed onto me by the great elders and return to monke
Indeed you shall
Best comment hahaha
Tell Lord Shaxx I said Hi!
@@judasjunior6503 a man of culture
@@shaashcya405 indeed
I've always wanted to understand why the heck shoes are not shaped like feet. Been wondering about it since I was a little kid.
Because it isn't cost effective
@@shidfard what on earth does that mean?
@@gking407 It is cheaper to make a shoe that isn't shaped like a foot with toes.
@@shidfard that isn’t what this video or original comment suggest. Wider toe boxes are the suggestion and have been sold for years
They also look more aesthetically pleasing than the ugly non feet looking shoes
I've never liked wearing shoes. Ever since I was a child I used flip flops at home or go barefoot. My mom always says that I should wear my sneakers at home but I just hate the feeling so much? This gives a whole new perspective on the issue and a lot more reasons to not wear those constrictive shoes that often.
Seems like an odd recommendation from your mom. Normally you specifically take your shoes off when you're at home. Or at the very least, whatever shoes you use outside, you aren't supposed to use inside, cause you'd be spreading the outdoor germs on your indoor floor.
@@vindifference that's US common thing I think but yeah it seems really disgusting to wear sneakers inside your house.
I never understood why people wear shoes at home.
@@derbigpr500 You know in my household i've never been told to remove it but I realize how disgusting it is. When I'll have my own house I won't do it
My mom would whoop me if I dared wearing shoes at home lol
You've helped me understand myself better. Everytime I took my feet out of my shoes, I had this need of letting my toes space themselves, and it felt good. I thought it was just because it would let fresh air pass through them. And when I'm on the computer, I like to space my toes and put my feet still on the floor with toes spaced. Some people used to make fun of me about it, but it felt good, so I ignored them. Now I understand the reason behind this need. Thanks very much!
Reject shoes, wear flipflops. Free and loose. A quick draw projectile when needed. Also can give you speed boost if you wear them in your arms instead.
Pff reject humanity, return to monke
Hoohoo
@@zenithchan1646 lol
Pfft Crocs are the way to go! Has all those benefits and more and can alternate between leisure and sports mode based on the positioning of the built in heel strap for all out utility.
A man of culture
I will be doomed by the algorithm after watching this video
Lol good one!
Lmao
Just dis like it 👎
I almost didn't watch it for that exact reason! Lol
Lol yes!
Algo: Oh you like toes now do you?
This makes sense, a lot of traditional Indian shoes had a wider space available and sort of tapered towards the heel, plus you usually had your shoes custom made or fitted and they’d last for years and years. I’m talking about traditional mojris etc. but I guess our tastes changed later on and now we have mojris and shoes that are really narrow towards the front and it feels like you’re squished in.
It makes sense as to why I hated wearing shoes, always been a sandals and slippers kinda gal.
Also this proves that crocs always have been the superior shoe design haha
Walking barefoot
Pros:
No bunions
Freedom
Calluses
Cons:
Ringworms
Facts. I picked up a fungus last month.
@@prometeus7559 There aren't any worms involved it's fungal.
I never had problems with being barefoot. The key is to clean the house everyday and avoid carpets.
@@Kingdeathtrooper I was thinking of hookworms. You're right tho
@@lilycha9398 I’ve always been barefoot lol I play outside barefoot and am barefoot at home. My parents HATE that but I do it cuz it feels good and my feet feel stronger. I only wear shoes when I have to go out, school, or work which is just more than half my day lol
One of the many reasons why I wear shoes with 'toe wiggle space' in them. Grandma doesn't like it because it supposedly makes me look like I have really big feet, then I look at her crooked toes and go "Nah, I'm good."
lmao
🤣
Don't punch her
ur toes still gonna crook after 8 hours work a day over 50+ years and those foots of ur grandma are most likely working feet
@@slivspinz1665 Nah. I have seen her shoes from her youth. Heels, leather, bright red, call d also the peppers since the front is tight and pointy.
It’s almost as if feet are feet-shaped for a reason
Woah really?
Feet come in different shapes and they all work ok.
I think the calfs and knees are way more important.
@@MrCmon113 the foot health will affect the entire body starting from the ankle, knee, hip, lower back, and so on
@@MrCmon113 Every part of the body serves a purpose. Foot health is as important as leg calf and knee health.
@@MrCmon113 "I think the calfs and knees are way more important."
Without feet, we literally would lose our mobility.
I’m a dancer and my teacher always instructed us to do this everyday but especially after pointe classes. Honestly such a relief of tension on my feet after a dance class😁
this is a certified hood classic
Shaq could’ve used this 30yrs ago. His toes are -knarly- gnarly!
bc of athletes foot probably
@@ak12db what does he mean his toes are knarly
Cuz i got my big toes bent towards my foot if thats what be talking about
There is no amount of preventive measures that could save shaq’s toes. The guy is 7’2” and played most of his career around 350 lbs. The fact that he could even run at that size is a testament to the genetic superiority of some people. Shaq is like a direct descendant of the nephelim.
@@scream9973 he means his toes look kind of weird or "nasty" for lack of better term.
I’m 15 and just glad I’m doing things like this early
Agreed my boi,I just copped some
Just turned 18. Glad I got this pop up in my recommended.
Safety glasses and hearing protection too
@@JurassicJolts lmao
try mewing also, search it up
I wear these daily. I underwent chemo in 2020, which caused neuropathic issues in hands and feet. With the tightening/pulling that can occur, it has caused the beginning of crossover toe (middle/second toes, right foot). No real progress as yet, but I've at least managed to keep the issue from worsening.
Thank you for the informative video!
I've recently done extensive research on ancient Chinese feet binding, it's horrifying. This is like the most mild accidental binding, it's not so bad, but it's definitely not great. Now I'm glad I grew up only buying extra wide shoes. I didn't like the suffocating feeling of regular shoes. As far as I can tell, my feet look fine
Holly shit. Just searched chinese foot binding and it looks horiffying
It's like Google hears me complaining about my feet hurting at work and then recommends this to me when I get home.
Because they do lol
Lmao they eavedrop on everything
Same
Appreciate the corpos being concerned of my health, but scared that they hear what I say
@@veterayt6800 They don't care about your health, they just want you to consoom
I love my toe spacers. I wear them at night and fall asleep in them. I remember the first time I was able to wear them for 30 minutes, I felt my calves unravel all the way up to my knees. It was 42 years of tension gone. Unreal. I’ve been wearing Merrell Vibrams since 2009. The first 2 weeks, your calves will be on fire. I do a lot of walking, and wow. But they helped align my entire body, and my feet/calves got a lot more muscular and I have better balance. I wish I’d had those shoes growing up. I’d have probably been an All American athlete in college. They make that much difference.
Back when I made the transition to zero drop barefoot my calves hurt for over a month with my running. Great now though.
@@drdanielbirch awesome video. I looked and did barefoot style shoes but couldnt use them for squash. This could be s solution. Can you use these eventually during sports sctivities? Many thanks
@@nialsawa5257 Thanks for the comment. You can use them in your shoes but personally I don’t tend to recommend it. Narrow squash shoes can be an issue but wear the toe spacers afterwards for a period of time (what works for you). That should help. I have a similar issue with my hockey skates that are tight. After a game I typically put them on for a bit at home.
Would love to know what style of Merrill’s Vibram u chose
@@theresabaker7092 Personally I am currently not running or walking in Merrells. But I do believe they make great shoes, I think the vapor is a popular minimalistic shoe they produce. My main day to day shoe is the vivobarefoot Gobi 2 and vivobarefoot primes lite 3.
Meanwhile, rock climbers be like "You guys have space for air molecules in your shoes?"
sad boulderer noises.
I never understood that. I get that the tip of the shoe has to be rigid to be able to get a good hold, but why does it have to be so narrow? Wouldn't you be able to use the strength in your foot better if you could spread it? Or is it so you can squish you foot into small openings in the rock?
@@kurachan101 its to have a strong holding point with a compact weight to it. Ever tried climbing a wire fence with large toe shoes or boots?
@@PatTheRiot exactly why I love converse when jumping fences the toe box just fits snug into the squares of the gate
I have sensory issues and I'm hyper aware of my toes touching each other and I have always wanted some but stopped myself from getting them. Now it turns out my primal instincts where right, huh.
Hey if it helps a complete stranger thinks you should let yourself buy something if it helps manage sensory issues.
I eventually let myself buy ear plugs a few years ago and changed my life.
I hope you bought them 11momths ago 😊
There's an old saying - Get good shoes and a good bed. If you aren't in one, you're in the other.
I find it strange why people buy and wear toe correctors in shoes and then complain they hurt. People need to consider barefoot shoes or sandals. Our feet aren't designed for point narrow shoes, essentially crushing our toes together.
I've been wearing toe correctors for a month now, I can separate my toes and move them so much more than before.
Really? Only a month? I bought some toe correctors but then gave up on wearing them because I figured undoing a lifetime of toe squeezing could never be fixed in such a short amount of time. How often do you wear them and when?
@@BigDeepz All day basically, well from 8am-10pm most days. I take them off for 5 mintues every few hours to give my toes a good stretch and then put the correctors back on. I don't wear them to bed, I give my feet a rest then. When I take them off I do toe stretches, attempting to tip toe, and toe exercises. I look at my feet and move them around, trying to concentrate on my brain to foot functions. I used a little Cork ball, roll it underneath my foot to stretch out the muscles and it helps releave the pain of the toe correctors. You could use a golf ball to save money.
When I first started the first week I was in agony, my 2 smallest toes was the worst. Put this way my feet was squashed together and I have hammer toes in both my 2nd smallest toes. Now they aren't as bad, my toes have gaps between them too. You just have to deal with the pain and wear them as much as you can. Ignore the 15 minute wearing advice, otherwise it will take ages to benifit from the correctors. Honestly my feet have feel great.
@@southerncampingexperience3841 wow thats awesome! Thank you for the reply. I just put them on and I'm going to try to wear them all day while I work out and stuff. Luckily I already have barefoot shoes so i can wear them in my shoes haha
@@BigDeepz Yes, I forgot to mention barefoot shoes make wearing them while walking and working comfortably. I wear finger socks with them to. Thsrs another note, try and recycle your old socks and swap them for finger socks. It allows much more freedom.
@@BigDeepz Thank you, glad you're trying again. Just keep going. I'm planning a solid year of wearing them
I could listen to this guy talk about literally anything
You just helped me with my lifelong feet pain from flat feet and painful shoes! Thank you!
Thank you so much I been noticing a change in my feet over last few months and it’s been worrying me a lot thanks to you I know what I can do now
After all this time mocking Sora and Riku shoes turns out they were right all along!
Underrated
No wonder why they’re so fast and floaty!!
Clown shoes are scientifically supported
HELP?!?!?€(€
First I was thinking wow never thought I'd watch a video like this then im wowed again with this KH comment 😭
Toe spacers are just braces for the feet. You can't change my mind.
well no because thats what it is
Bruh😂
If anything, shoes are more like braces for your feet, because they push your toes into a different position than they are naturally. Toe spacers, if anything, are just correcting the damage done from wearing shoes.
Thank you for the video Dr. Daniel. With this information I ought to be more conscious of my feet and toes and be more responsible and proactive about taking care of them.
Lately I’ve been feeling my arches start to fall and have been wondering what to do about it, thanks for the advice!
Get yourself some “barefoot” shoes too! They’re shaped for your feet and allow you to use all those muscles you usually wouldn’t use in modern shoes
id rather wear clown shoes than those pieces of trash 😂😭
@@lightningmcqueen1717 once u try them there's no going back, other shoes becomes unusable and not comfortable anymore
@@MrStarpeto id still rather wear a bigger size instead. maybe not clown shoes 😂
@@lightningmcqueen1717 putting appearance before health is not a wise choice, I'd rather look like a clown than having bad feet that hurts when I walk
@@MrStarpeto and thats your opinion.
Man, every time I think about toe position and any kind of deformities in the foot, I always think back to the fact that Chinese women were made to wear super tight shoes since they considered big feet unattractive, and how badly that must have affected their feet.
Feels bad man.
i feel irritated. without following that mindset, they could’ve had healthier feet. i wanna meet the person who invented that mindset and give them a hard punch in the face, if i’m being honest.
Alot of times they would straight up break the bones in their feet and reshape them so they'd appear smaller 😣
Bro it wasn’t just tiny shoes, the shoes were unnaturally tiny and the women had their feet smashed by a hammer and folded the front so it can fit
@@hkennemer1 :(
@@hkennemer1 damn 🙏🏽
Your body is mirrored in the feet. Loved Reflexology in College. Overlooked so much by people, not realising the absolute importance of foot care.
Great video thankyou 🦶🙏🏻🦶
I know he’s right since my dad is an orthopedic shoemaker .. he always lectures me about wearing the wrong shoes etc (not talking about high heeled shoes, he talking about my sneekers) and that most of them are too tight/ not really good for the feet but of course for most people so me included it’s all about the aesthetics (yes even with trainors/sneekers that works ) and not about the healthy aspect 😭
I don’t know I have naturally very slim feet and I’m far away from an hallux valgus or something similar and I really don’t want my feet to widen If I’m real honest with you so yeah
I tend to buy wider shoes as well as a little over sized so the widest part of the shoe is at the top of my pinky toe, never knew that was better it just felt comfortable for me!
My parents hate this lol,they think my shoes are always too big.. even now I always want wider,I hate not being able to move my toes
Yess same i personally do this cause of sensory issues linked with my adhd
I'm just 20 but I'm so tall that my body is equally bigger and where I live I can't find shoes that are fully comfortable.
but I don't leave my house much and never wear socks so idc . but u know I could use fixing my toes a bit cyz they are stuck together from when I was younger hmm
my parents would always buy me slightly oversized shoes thinking i’d grow into them. I never did but I liked the extra space it gave me so now I buy larger shoes for myself
Im already exercising my toes everyday since I was a kid to pick up my clothes and dumping it into the laundry basket after taking a shower.
I have progressed, i can now snap a towel while holding it with my toes, i wear slides pretty much all summer so more toe space
Nice
Lmao you serious 🤣🤣🤣
@@user-exuytv I've been doing it ever since I could remember. And strong toe grip also let you pinch my siblings with my foot. Also helps with picking things up, sometimes it's easier to use your feet.
@@MinutePlant how much can yo toes curl lmao
Thank you for talking about the importance of toes! I've been working on restoring the nerves in my feet after over a decade of prescribed gabapentin had succeeded in deadening them, but curiously, not the pain. (Restless Legs tightens the Achilles tendon, causing chronic Plantar Fasciitis.) So I have been working on moving, stretching, and isolating my toes, by adding toe 'waves' to my bedtime stretches and rolls. I so believe it's helping, and see more reason for using the toe spacers. The 2-minute heel drop with both straight- leg and bent-knee really helps!
That’s great to hear! It’s all about motion! Controlled articular rotations for the legs and feet are also great. As much as moving and stretching is important. Control of that motion is also vital. Keep it up!
Thank you so much for the helpful and throughout video Daniel! I'm a bit confused though. I used to be barefoot pretty much 24/7 for about a year and then used Earth Runners for a long time. My feet hurt like hell, couldn't get up from the bed in the morning. Reading comments here the pain could have originated from muscle development in my feet, however my pointer toe started to severely bend away from my big toe on my left foot. I was told (and thought the same) that it was due to walking barefoot on hard, flat surfaces like concrete and indoor flooring, thus the muscles and bones started to disintegrate, since we are not meant to walk on hard, flat surfaces, rather on softer earth and climbing trees. A custom insole did miracle, but now I'm told that it'll weaken my muscles and I should rather walk barefoot every time. My logical approach would be to use insoles for city walking / indoors and be barefoot as much as possible when I'm in the garden or out in the nature. The bent pointer toe still hurts and I don't know what to do. Thank you so much if you could help me out with any thought!
Ok so you are correct in that we weren't meant to be walking barefoot on hard surfaces such as concrete. I would find it hard to believe muscles and bones would disintegrate but you could damage tissue with overuse. As for the insole I'm glad to hear you found benefit. But you are also correct in that insoles can allow particular musculature of ours arches to not be required and intern not be as strong. I support the mixing of surfaces and that would solve your problem. Foot exercises can also help such as the short foot exercise. czcams.com/video/3bcp6aRPAKU/video.html
@@drdanielbirch Thank you so much for your help Daniel!!
I can remember when I was a little kid, I used to have duck shaped feet. My mum had trouble finding shoes that were comfortable for me.
Now that I'm older, I have the same disfigured and narrow feet that the modern human has, and I can fit into shoes fine. Unfortunate really.
But I'm now into wearing vibrams and letting my feet 'breathe' a lot more.
Never heard of toe spacers, but these look super cool.
What is duck feet? We're your feet wide??
@@bakago4746 Not literal duck feet xd
But yeah, my feet were wider towards the toes.
Doesn't really matter how narrow your feet are as long as your big toes don't come awkwardly in.
Thank you, this ended my family's generational trauma. You have saved my bloodline.
^ This
Short video, awesome show and tell, and hit all the essential points 👏 👏 👏 👏
I love how I'm not uncomfortable despite my disdain for feet, oddly enough I'm not disgusted but rather invested. This is very informal thank you.
I wish I had known about stuff like this years ago! In my early 20s I was under the illusion I had normal healthy feet, until this girl I was dating pointed out I had bunions. I had heard of them before but never knew what they were or what caused them. A random check up at my GP in my 20s I then found out I had flat feet also! I've got some toe spacers I'll definitely start using them more often and doing toe exercises after watching this!
Definitely work on some foot exercises and barefoot work.
Make sure to roll your feet out too! Changed the game for me. I roll my arches with a plastic foam roller ball with basically spikes all over it.
Just start barefoot trail running and you don't have to worry about anything else.
Also makes you a badass.
@@MrCmon113 thats crazy risky and painful
I had no idea about the use or even existence of toe spacers! Great info :)
Also would highly recommend Yoga With Adriene, there are plenty of poses that help soothe your feet A LOT.
Thank you for this content, doctor. I've always not liked my inward toes; I believe I've had them even before shoes though. But now, knowing toe spacers exists (I live under a box), I will not only buy toe spacers but invest in a variety of toe spaced shoes that replicate my feet and even purchase (when I am the fastest man) spikes that are toe separate and resemble my foot for maximum efficiency.
I will try and get these shoes to be legalized so I can use them in races. If not, I'll settle for less because nothin will stop me, but whenever I'm training I'll be running with toe spaced shoes in training and wearing toe spacers whenever relaxing to return my toes to normal
Well, that explains why the toe spacers used for pedicures hurts like hell for me 😂 guess I’ll be using them to stretch out a bit
Good shit, this. Been looking for stuff like this over the last year.
So you're into feet fetish huh?
@@honezone2266 You'd be surprised how little they show feet, on CZcams
The beguinning of the video gives me 1 man 1 jar vibes
I'm really considering switching to this type of shoes and using toe spacers, especially when I sometimes get really bad pain from just bending my foot a little.
I don't really care about aesthetics, I think improving my wellbeing is more important.
Plus pushing myself a bit out of my comfort zone for my own health might help me get in the mindset to do stuff about my eating habits and lack of exercise, because although I'm completely fine now my unhealthy habits are definitely coming back to bite me in the ass in a few years.
Definitely gonna do stuff like this now that I’m starting my military career. Glad I came across this video
Feet health is mandatory for your whole body, don't neglect it
First time I ever felt the ball of my foot at the base of a tripod and not my foot as just a foot. This is actually gonna help me so much with soccer, thanks
Been running in Altra footwear for a while now. Very wide toe-box and zero drop, absolutely love it. Seems like a pretty low-risk experiment, I'll investigate toe spacers and healthy ways to implement them. Thanks!!
I love Altras great choice!!
@@drdanielbirchwhat were the other brands? I heard Hoka but what were the other ones you mentioned?
Thank you 😊
@@foodiesworldUSA vivobarefoot, altra, xero, to name a few
@@foodiesworldUSA Altra, xero, vivobarefoot are a great set of options
I am noting that little toe and big toe play both an important role on how we triggers our vestibular system, also feet flexibility is giving me more relaxation.
Thanks Doc B!
This is a great video - interesting and useful. It only occurred to me halfway through that the YT algorithm probably recommended it to me because I've been watching some videos about ballet pointe shoes and what dancers' feet endure. Thanks for looking out for my foot health, algorithm!!
This video was very helpful and educative. Kinda frustrating how I only learned this today and I'm kind of worried that wearing toe spacers won't fully fix my toes and feet just because I'm already an adult :// Welp at least I will be more aware about buying shoes in the future
Guys and Gals he mentioned the Altra brand and I’ve been wearing them for about 2-3 years now and I used to have really bad blisters to where I couldn’t walk anymore, my old job made me walk around 15-20 miles and the Altra shoes give awesome support
Been seeing ads for Altra nowadays, I was skeptical but not that I've seen this video I just might check them out
I wish I could have known of this earlier, my feet are all messed up from wearing really narrow shoes, im not even old and im already having problems.
You still have time.
Me too & I had bunions since I was a kid :,(
recently began wearing minimalistic shoes, about 6 months in now. Best switch ever. also wear toe socks and toe spacers, even sleep with them. My balance feels great. I bump into things less. i catch myself better overall. some friends say this is just a placebo, but among giving my feet more inspections. my right foot is smaller than my left, which also explains why Ive broken my right ankle, multiple times while playing basketball. there's more space on the right foot. so now I double sock the right foot. my back feels better with all these small adjustments. I'm breathing better overall and have more energy and less aches.
Great to hear
I wish I knew this a long time ago , thanks for sharing this information.
Sir, you've been chosen by the algorithm. Enjoy!
🤣
i just bought these few days ago actually
I was annoyed it hurts, but ill continue cause I'm determined now
where can I buy these?
This was really interesting. I teach pilates where we focus on feet a lot during excersise. I tell people how our shoes mess us up as much as they help us. I'll mention this info to my students.
Yes these things are amazing especially for athletes!!
I got a pair for five bucks off Amazon and now I’m able to sleep with them I don’t get acid buildup on my toe joints causing gout anymore . I can run farther distances definitely a must have male and female
I could really use these. I bicycle a lot in regular shoes and find that I tend to clinch my toes together when I’m trying to generate extra force on the pedals. Just putting my fingers between my toes feels like a pretty heavy stretch through my toes and the arches of my feet.
I already have that kind of shoes because I have wide feet and that's the only kind that is done wide
I'm gonna try this because while I don have any pain I've been bothered by how my small toe presses against the next toe
thank you, great information. im a dancer and i noticed recently I have way more control over my entire right foot than i do my left. Toes and all. I can see how it influences my performance moving on and off the heels of my feet to my toes. Honestly i dont like how weak my toes are especially after seeing the toe control here. Im on these workouts asap. I just ordered some barefoot shoes this week!
Thanks for the comment. Barefoot shoes are a great start but be sure to ease into them. Our feet can take time to adjust and be sore. Just a heads up. Additionally, foot strengthening exercises can go a long way including the short foot exercise. I've included a link below.
czcams.com/video/3bcp6aRPAKU/video.htmlsi=d_2hLss-7csrcP6T
@@drdanielbirch thanks a lot! I’m certainly taking it all into consideration doctor. 🫶🏾🫡
I just bought one of these and, wow, it makes me sore but I already see improvement.
I always just thought I had wide feet, shoes that would fit otherwise always felt rather tight around the toes. Good to know my feet are actually how they're supposed to be.
I bought a pair last week and had it on yesterday while studying and wow i already feel such a difference; my foot muscles feel so relieved. Highly recommended it, especially when you're on your feet for very long shifts in tight shoes
Ah ha! I don't know why this was recommended to me, but boy am I glad it was! I've noticed that all my shoes have started to lean in with the ankle part angled or pointing in between my feet. I thought this can't be good and I figured I should try to correct it, so I've been consciously shifting my weight to the outside of my feet and got a new pair of shoes that has a little extra raised padding on the arch. It's hard to change the way I walk, though, so I might give these toe separators a try to see if they help.
Are there any kinds or brands you recommend, or are they all about the same?
Thanks for the info. Good stuff.
I’ve noticed myself ; my own feet issues have worsened; I was worried; and found this video; (I wonder if multi-toe spacers are “better” than the one space I own) - thank you for this video.
The single spacer is typically used for bunion issues. But both have benefit
@@drdanielbirch oh okay, I will have a better effort to use the spacers***
@@_pitaph_6392 yeah, I have problem with run on sentences… I usually have poor grammar but mean well; - can you tell I like using semi colons?
Great video! From what I understand, you believe barefoot/minimalist shoes are better then? The argument makes sense, just seems like there is a debate about this and I'm curious about your opinion.
Thank you for your question @tal32123. DISCLAIMER Initially please all that read this speak with a healthcare professional for further specific guidelines with transitioning to minimalist foot wear as to avoid injuries from arise.
In the grand scheme of things yes I believe minimalistic footwear is superior but there are some people that should stay in a stiff shoe. This can depend on a variety of factors; age, bone density, malformations, previous injuries etc.
You are correct there is a big debate on the topic. The main concern surrounds the injuries that can occur when attempting to transition from a heeled stiff shoe or runner to either a zero drop or barefoot shoe. This was the major issue with the initial marketing campaigns brought about years ago by minimalistic footwear companies. The marketing was either misrepresented or misinterpreted as a cure all for all, which they aren’t. As a result many jumped full on in, which in some cases resulted in injuries. It should be known that a full transition can take up to a year if not longer in some individuals. Take running for example. Many amateur runners are heel strikers, this is made possible with a heeled cushioned shoe. Just try and run around your house in bare foot and you will instantly run on your toes or mid foot. So many issues arose from heel strikers transitioning quickly but not changing their running form and not altering the distance they were running. Furthermore, with a casual shoe when jumping to a minimalistic shoe your foot all of a sudden requires many more structures and muscles to activate which haven’t been required previously in a stiff shoe. This can cause the plantar/sole of your foot to experience discomfort.
That’s roughly the argument on the topic. My apologies if that was a long winded answer but those are my thoughts. In the end many individuals can benefit from a transition but should do it appropriately with guidance from a health care provider.
@@drdanielbirch As a runner, I’ve seen people try to transition their foot strike because people say it’s not efficient, despite not having injuries with their current form. It blows my mind why they still try to change it after trying and getting injured in the process. Their muscles have only ever run with the mechanics of the strike they used, and it’s REALLY hard to effectively change strike pattern in a manner that doesn’t either result in injury or temporary fitness loss due to a decrease in weekly mileage. I like the saying for foot strike: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” In other words, if you heel strike but have never been injured after years of running, don’t mess with that part of your form. The worst part is, once people finally adapt to their new form, the time differences and comfort while running is only slightly better, and most of the time difference is probably due to more running experience rather than the strike difference. There are a select few pro runners with small heel strikes, so it’s not like it’s completely awful to use it.
@@ambiguousheadline8263 Ya, at the end of the day everyone is unique and different things work for different people. The transition to minimal shoes is not for everyone and for those that decide to attempt it it can be a long road. Also once transitioned shifting back or cheating and wearing heeled shoes down the line can be uncontrollable.
The way I get around my feet getting tense and cramped is to pop my feet at the metatarsal base. Essentially artificially/semi-forcefully stretching those muscles, tendons, etc. Also I walk on my tiptoes a lot, which means I have to spread my toes for balance and cushioning.
Very detailed information, thank you!
Thanks great tips. I got my toe separator the other day. Also you sound exactly like Peter gregory from silicon valley.
Haha That’s a first. Happy that they’ve helped
So glad I chose to be a software engineer( for the first time). I wear slippers everyday to work, and as I'm inside all the time, the weather does not bother me( driving with slippers is illeagal here but well... not caught yet).
Im gonna call the cops on you👿.....
JK
I suggest you put a spare shoe in your car incase you got pulled over, you can quickly hide the slippers and wear the shoe
It's ilegal to drive with slippers here too, just drive barefoot
@@TeraBitts aren't drive barefoot is illegal too? Because it is illegal to drive barefoot here but it's legal to drive with slippers
@@captainharloq8054 huh, why is driving barefoot illegal? it's the only way I can drive smoothly
I want the foot doctor from TikTok to review this!
Just bought mine and am already using.
toe spacer exist!
also corner table leg
table leg: lemme end this guy whole career
I've never been able to lift the 4 smaller toes from the ground, like the exercise you're showing. I can lift the big toe and point it up, but then for the second part of the exercise, my brain juest can't control the toes so they point up. What I do is more like leaning my weight towards the big toe side and pressing the ground with it, so "by accident" the remaining part of the foot is raised a tiiiiny bit, and then the toes barely raise as a side effect. They don't point strictly upwards, so this feels more like cheating and less like stepping stones towards having actual toe control. Any tips on how to gain that mobility?
Those exercises take time and your brain does need to learn new tasks. I tell my patients to start by using their hands to guide the toes and help them into those positions and over time it will come.
Run around barefoot. Preferably through forests and do balancing and stuff. Then control over those bodyparts will come.
My pinky toe has been folded in on it's self for as long as I can remember
@@MrCmon113 that sounds rough lol, woods could give you cuts,blisters, slivers and there could be sharp rocks
@@juanfernandez2183 Just walk around barefoot inside until you develop some balls!
I have been having issues with my toes esp with my small toe that is almost hidden under my neighboring one) for some time so this video helped me to discover one possible solution. Thanks!
Never thought about this
Didn’t hear a word this man said. I was just staring at his FEET.
😂🤣
f e e t
I've always sized my shoes so my toes sit in the widest part of the shoe. That means I wear a couple sizes too big all the time. I have ADHD and sensory issues so can't stand my toes being stuffed into tight shoes.
Smart move you've found ways to adapt. If the size are too big a barefoot shoe may fit your foot even better.
.thakyou your video makes me realize that my foot was healthy and in proper place and it is beautiful...
I wear barefoot/minimalist shoes for all of my runs, hikes, and time in the gym. Love 'em.
Legit question though - wouldn't wearing these on a regular basis, and thus correcting your toes.. make your usual shoes uncomfortable? As in - shoes that you previously had no problems wearing? (Converse, especially)
It will,this is how our toes should actually be like.
Ditching the previous shoes and switching to barefoot shoes,Sandals and Flip-Flops for daily use is the best option.
@@-BarathKumarS what if I’m required to wear steel/composite toe shoes at my work?
Can high arches and therefore pronation also lead to big toe angulation? I almost only wear flip flops but I can see my big toe curving in. Any advice?
You probably duck walk most people who wear flip flops do it
Is it because when you use flip flop , you actually have to pinch the rope ( the thing that goes between the big toes and the toes beside it )with the big toes or else it will drop?
I think this is really going to help me. I have bunions on both toes they come back right away after cutting them. My right foot is worse than my left I have almost no calf muscle on right side. My big toe never engages I have sharp excruciating foot pain in my ankle and arch. I am going to wear my walk fit orthotic which is worn out and cracked from extremely flat feet. Along with toe spacer and ball of foot pad to help engage big toes to help me walk. I'm not walking good at all right now. Pain everyday every where lower back and of course feet especially right foot it's impinged and flat and talus/ankle tendonitis from defect of talus bone and broken tibia years ago.
I usually buy shoes a half size larger for this reason; although I never knew it til now it was just what felt best
There's two kinds of silicone spacers I've seen: those that go between all the toes (like the one in your video) and those that are only between the 1st and 2nd toe. Is there a difference in how they work? Which one should you prefer if I you want to keep hallux valgus from getting worse?
They both work on the same premise but the smaller one only found between the first couple toes is typically for individuals hoping to avoid worsening of bunions. Both could help with bunion/hallux valgus, but the bunion focused may benefit more. Do know they it likely wont change an angulation but can help possibly avoid worsening.
I have both. In my experience the spacers that only go between the big toe and the second tend to push the 2nd toe aside and so are less effective. The spacers that go between all toes work really good although a bit less comfortable in te beginning, esp. for the little toe.
Btw wear barefoot shoes (cheap ones available at Amazon named Within and other brands that are similar) otherwise all your gain by the spacers will be undone by wearing shoes that squeeze your toes together again.
My big toe points inward and both styles of spacers put more pressure on my toes, pushing them the same wrong direction as the stronger big toe. Worn briefly it gives relief by stretching the toes but ultimately do minimal to push the big toe outward.
I’d been curious about the benefits of toe spacers and how to use them properly, and this video summarizes it nicely. The doc has great veinous circulation to his feet a healthy-looking arch and they are nice-looking well-balanced male feet. Nice feet and nice vid, Dr.. I learned lots and hope my feet can look as nice and healthy some day.
I've always had a problem finding shoes that were wide enough by the toes. Thought it was just that my feet were weird this whole time. I guess the problem is more common than I thought
Thanks, man!