Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine Perspectives in the Functional Management of Hallux Valgus

Hallux valgus (HV) is one of the most common forefoot deformities and can substantially impair daily function and quality of life. With rapid advances in sports medicine and rehabilitation science, management strategies have shifted from passive structural correction toward active functional restoration. Growing evidence supports the role of muscle strengthening, neuromuscular control, proprioceptive retraining, and biomechanical optimization in improving pain, stability, and gait performance in patients with HV. This narrative review summarizes recent progress in nonsurgical interventions for HV from the perspective of sports and rehabilitation medicine. It discusses the mechanisms and clinical effectiveness of key therapeutic modalities, including intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscle training, kinesiology taping (KT), biofeedback and gait retraining, orthotic and manual therapy, physical modalities, patient education, and digital rehabilitation technologies. In addition, it explores evidence supporting combined and individualized treatment strategies aimed at enhancing long-term outcomes. By integrating current findings, this review provides a comprehensive reference for developing multidisciplinary, function-oriented, and precision-based management approaches primarily for patients with isolated or uncomplicated hallux valgus. For postoperative patients or those with concomitant forefoot disorders, rehabilitation strategies should be individualized, as direct evidence remains limited.