Development of shoes to reduce the hallux valgus angle ‐Evaluation in women with mild hallux valgus‐

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the first metatarsophalangeal angle (hallux valgus (HV) angle) can be reduced by HV correction shoes in middle‐aged to older women with mild hallux valgus. Radiography showed mild hallux valgus (HV angle:16.7‐21.9°)only unilaterally with a normal HV angle (8.7‐13.6°) on the opposite side in all 7 participants. As a result of comparison of the HV angle under 3 conditions, i.e., barefooted, wearing shoes with ordinary soles, and wearing shoes with newly developed soles,significant differences were observed among the 3 conditions on the HV side(Fvalue= 16.18,p<0.01) ,and the HV angle was significantly reduced by wearing shoeswithnewly developed soles compared with the barefooted condition and wearing shoes with ordinary soles. On the non‐HV side, no significant difference among the conditions was observed (F value=0.41,p=0.67).These results suggest that HV correction shoes are effective for reducing the HV angle and do not cause problems when worn by middle-aged or older women with a normal HV angle.