Using a Kinetic Wedge to Treat Functional Hallux Limitus

Foot orthotics are used by health professionals to help treat a lot of different types of foot disorders. They get used to support the foot and also to get pressure from different areas of the foot. They can be used to cushion the foot and over the foot differently. Foot orthotics come is a very wide range of types and are made from many different manufacturing processes. They can be custom made or they can be one of the many different mass produced devices. Expert clinicians who use foot orthotics have the full range of options at their disposal to use, depending on what is best for the patient.

One particular problem that foot orthotics are used for is to alter the function or biomechanics of the foot. This might mean that there is a biomechanical problem with the foot that is causing the foot to move or function in such a way that this is causing pain or other symptoms somewhere in the lower limb. There are many different causes of biomechanical problems with the foot and not all of them can be changed with foot orthotics. Some of them are better treated with the use of exercises or changes in footwear. A common problem that foot orthotics are used for is overpronation of the foot. This is when the arch collapses and the rearfoot rolls inwards. Not all of these need treating and as it can be caused by a number of different reasons, a number of different treatments need to be used depending on that cause. When it comes to overpronation of the foot, it is not a one size fits all when it comes to the treatment. The most common cause of this is tight calf muscles, so the best treatment is a heel raise in the short terms and stretching in the long term and not using foot orthotics.

Another cause of biomechanical dysfunction is a condition known as functional hallux limitus. This is when there is a normal range of motion at the big toe joint (hallux) but that range of motion is limited when weightbearing while walking, so that is why its called functional. The reason for this functional limitation is not also clear, but it does cause the arch of the foot to collapse and alters the biomechanics of the lower limb by compensating for the functional hallux limitus. The way that foot orthotics are used to treat a functional hallux limitus is to be modified to change the way the big toe joint moves, so that its function is smother and it does not cause any compensations. A common extension on the front of a foot orthotic to treat this is what is trademarked as a Kinetic Wedge. The Kinetic Wedge is a commercial product that is designed to hold the big toe slightly dorsiflexed and also to slightly lift the other metatarsophalangeal joints. This design of the Kinetic Wedge has been shown to facilitate the motion of the big toe joint and take care of a functional hallux limitus.

Craig Payne is a University lecturer, runner, cynic, researcher, skeptic, forum admin, woo basher, clinician, rabble-rouser, blogger and a dad.