Frequently Asked Questions

Correct Toes Video Library

Before You Buy

With Correct Toes, you can:

  • Relieve foot pain while being active
  • Align toes back to their natural, anatomical position
  • Improve strength and flexibility of the toes and feet
  • Increase circulation to the ends of the toes
  • Enhance balance and stability

Correct Toes Benefits

Correct Toes help splay the toes in the way that nature intended. Why is this important? We spend a lifetime in footwear, including most athletic footwear, that is too narrow at the ends of the toes. As a result, the shod adult foot shape differs from the unshod adult foot shape (and from the foot shape of infants, who are born with perfect feet).

Correct Toes work in a similar way to how braces work for teeth. Correct Toes place the toes into optimal alignment and slowly and progressively change the architecture of the foot. The muscles of the foot adapt and strengthen accordingly. Toe alignment and foot strength has numerous positive effects on biomechanics, gait and injury prevention.

We wish it were that simple! It’s not quite that easy, but it’s not complicated either. The whole idea of Correct Toes is to position the toes in the correct way. In addition, it is vital to wear shoes that are completely flat, lightweight, flexible in the sole and sufficiently wide in the toe box, so that the foot can function like a bare foot inside the shoe. This type of footwear must be used on a regular basis. Unfortunately, such footwear can be difficult to find. For some suggested models, please see our shoe list. Following the above plan, you can expect to see positive results.

Correct Toes come in four sizes. Generally, your shoe size will determine your Correct Toes size. If you are unsure of your sizing, please refer to our printable templates as they will be the best measure of size.

Horizontal Chart

Sizing & Modifications

A pedicure set is designed for just that – a pedicure. Pedicure sets space the toes arbitrarily so that, while the person receiving the pedicure is seated, nail polish can be applied. Pedicure sets are not intended as a therapeutic device for repetitive use during activity. Correct Toes place each toe in a natural position and are designed for use in footwear, during daily and athletic activities. After a break-in period, this position can be held for a long time, and doing so will benefit the user.
Yoga Toes stretch the toes beyond natural anatomy, and can only be worn while at rest. The bulkiness of Yoga Toes makes it impossible to use while standing, walking and running, or in shoes. Correct Toes is the only toe spacing product designed to be worn during weight-bearing activities. Designed by sports podiatrist Dr. Ray McClanahan, Correct Toes spaces the toes to their true and natural anatomical position, allowing the user to rehabilitate from the negative and deforming features of conventional footwear.
Of course, it will be different for different people. Success with the device depends on many factors, such as a person’s age, how often Correct Toes are used, level of physical activity, how often appropriate footwear is worn, etc. Most people experience some relief right away, with continued positive results over many months. For architectural changes to take place, some time and dedication is required. For instance, in attempting to reverse a bunion, SOME movement of the big toe will likely be visible within a few months. Further progressive changes will continue over many months or years. Ultimately, it is an investment in lifelong optimal foot health!
Yes! Splayed toes positively impact gait, aid balance and redistribute weight. When using Correct Toes during activity, it’s important that the shoe is wide enough in the toe box to accommodate Correct Toes without pinching or rubbing. To test your shoe, please check out the Shoe Liner Test.

Anyone with diabetes or diminished sensation in the feet should avoid using Correct Toes. Also, anyone with diminished circulation (peripheral arterial disease or “PAD”) should not use Correct Toes.

Please consult your holistically-minded healthcare provider if you are uncertain about whether or not you should use Correct Toes.

Yes! When you purchase Correct Toes you’ll receive one for each foot.

We ship all international orders using FedEx Shipping and they are also our customs broker. From time to time, FedEx will contact you directly about paying a fee – this fee is a customs/duty charge, not a shipping fee. The customs/duty charges are the responsibility of the customer and have to be paid before the shipment will be released from customs. Please note also that FedEx cannot ship to PO Boxes.

We offer a 30-day-no-worries return policy, with a 90-day materials warranty, if they split or break during use. You may also return Correct Toes within 30 days, even if they have been used or modified. More details can be found at: https://correcttoes.com/foot-help/shipping-and-returns/

Using Correct Toes

Correct Toes are reversible! Each individual silicone spacer is identically casted, and they can be used on the right or left foot interchangeably regardless of the raised ‘Correcttoes.com’ marking.

Correct Toes are placed between the toes and are designed to be worn either barefoot or within naturally shaped footwear. Best results occur when using Correct Toes during daily weight-bearing activities. It’s important to incorporate Correct Toes into your foot care routine slowly and progressively. Begin wearing Correct Toes for only 30 minutes the first day, increasing wear-time in 30-minute increments each consecutive day, to tolerance.

Correct Toes encourage muscles to flex, move and work in new ways. Fatigue, muscle soreness and tenderness are normal during the transition process. Similar to any new activity, soreness should subside while strength gains occur.

This is a very important question! Unfortunately, almost all the footwear available on the market today does not respect normal and natural foot and toe anatomy. In a natural shoe, the widest part of the shoe is at the ends of the toes, not at the ball. The trick to finding appropriate footwear is to make sure that the shoe is the same shape as a natural foot. The best way to test this is by performing the Shoe Liner Test. To help, we have compiled a Shoe List that highlights healthier-than-usual brands and models. Always seek shoes that are completely flat, wide in the toe box and flexible in the sole.

Think of it this way: It takes decades for feet to conform to conventional footwear, in which muscles and tendons are held rigid in stiff foundations, preventing movement and causing atrophy. Over many years, feet weaken and conform to the shape of footwear.

Similar to the progression of starting a new fitness program, aligning and strengthening feet and toes is a slow process. Positive changes require time and are not without a few aches along the way. Anticipate using Correct Toes regularly during the transition to new footwear. Throughout the first few months, progressive use of the device will begin to yield changes in alignment. After several years of consistent use, feet become stronger. The long-term goal of Correct Toes is to maintain natural toe position without the use of Correct Toes. Correct Toes acts as a temporary training aid while lower leg musculature and toes return to the proper length-to-tension ratio and alignment, respectively.

In general, we don’t recommend wearing Correct Toes in combination with orthotics; we instead recommend weaning yourself off orthotics—slowly and progressively—when introducing Correct Toes. Traditional orthotics provide structure under the arch, preventing foot muscles from flexing and moving and contributing to foot weakness and atrophy. Correct Toes, in combination with naturally shaped and flexible footwear, will encourage muscular growth and strength. The end goal of using Correct Toes is a stronger, more structurally intact foot that does not depend on any orthotic.

Yes! View our illustrated modification chart. Also, see our Modification video. An older version of the modifications chart can be found here.

Correct Toes are designed to be adaptable and customizable. The 1st and 4th pylons are formed with an open, hollow cavity. This cavity can be filled with material to assist in the progressive shifting of the 1st and 5th toes. A shim is any soft, flexible material that can be used to spread or widen the hollow cavity within the 1st or 4th Correct Toes pylons. Try cutting up a piece of an old shoe liner in inserting this into the slot.* One, two, or even three shims can be added to these cavities over time to help “bulk up” the spacers.**

*We recommend at least 3 months of progressive and consistent Correct Toes use before trying this modification.

**Shim material is not provided with the purchase of Correct Toes.

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