Orthotic management of common forefoot deformities: a clinical practice guideline for hallux valgus.

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Orthotic management of common forefoot deformities: a clinical practice guideline for hallux valgus.

Introduction

Foot problems have been known since early mankind (1) and shoes have been a part of human attire from early civilization. (2,3) Throughout the centuries, fashion has played an important role in the success of certain styles from being soft to hard, rigid high-fashion footwear. (2) These footwear constrict the width of the foot especially in the forefoot compressing the toes. Improper footwear can frequently lead to deformities of the forefoot including hallux valgus, bunionettes, and hammer toes. (2) This review will be looking at literature related to orthotic management for deformities of the forefoot. Since there are a large number of deformities of the forefoot including the toes, and research is scarce, this review will include some of the most common such as hallux valgus, Morton's neuroma and metatarsalgia.

Methods

The literature was reviewed to identify studies that investigated the use of foot orthoses as part of conservative treatment of forefoot deformities. The focus of this review was on randomized controlled trials as they have a strong level of evidence. Forefoot deformities including hallux valgus, Morton's neuroma and metatarsalgia will