Treatment of Lesser Toe Deformities Based on Physical Therapy

Area of Science:

• Podiatry
• Biomechanics
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Forefoot problems are prevalent, affecting daily living and increasing fall risks.
• Current treatments prioritize conservative measures before surgical options.
• Nonsurgical approaches focus on pressure relief and deformity correction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of conservative treatments for forefoot problems.
• To explore the role of intrinsic foot muscle strengthening in managing forefoot deformities.

Main Methods:

• Review of conservative treatment strategies for forefoot issues.
• Emphasis on pressure relief, deformity correction, and corrective devices.
• Incorporation of physiotherapy, specific orthoses, and intrinsic foot muscle exercises.

Main Results:

• Conservative measures, including orthoses and exercises, are standard before surgery.
• Corrective devices are useful for reducible deformities.
• Intrinsic foot muscle strengthening shows promise for correcting and preventing deformities.

Conclusions:

• Conservative management is key for forefoot problems, focusing on pressure relief and correction.
• Physiotherapy and orthoses are indicated interventions.
• Strengthening intrinsic foot muscles presents a novel and effective approach for mild deformities.