Here are all the things you want to know about hallux valgus!

01What is hallux valgus

Hallux valgus is a common foot deformity, which means that the big toe deviates from the midline and tilts outwards to a greater extent than the normal valgus angle, and the big toe is slightly rotated outwards on the longitudinal axis. After the deformity is formed, a painful bursa may form at the bony protrusion on the inner side of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe, which affects wearing shoes and walking, and may be accompanied by symptoms such as deformity of the remaining toes and forefoot pain.

Causes

1. Genetic factors

About half of the hallux valgus patients have deformities before the age of 20, and the period from birth to 20 is the period of human bone growth and development to maturity. Congenital genetic factors play an important role in the occurrence of hallux valgus.

2. Footwear factors

Wearing shoes is not the only factor causing hallux valgus, but may only aggravate the pathological changes of certain structural malformed feet.

3. Other factors

Including muscle strength imbalance, inflammatory and neuromuscular factors, traumatic factors, ligament relaxation, hormone levels, etc.

02Symptoms and manifestations

The symptoms and secondary changes of hallux valgus mainly include the following:

1. Pain

The pain is mostly located at the medial protrusion of the metatarsal head, which is caused by compression and friction of the protrusion and secondary capsulitis. Due to personal constitution and other reasons, the pain may not be proportional to the degree of deformity.

2. Deformity of the 2nd and 3rd toes

Severe hallux valgus can lead to toe riding, that is, the toes ride under the second and third toes, pushing them up, causing hammer toe deformity, pain and functional impairment of the second and third toes.

How to determine whether you have hallux valgus?

The angle between the axis of the first toe and the axis of the first metatarsal bone of a normal person's foot is between 0° and 15°. If it exceeds 15°, it is hallux valgus.

03Treatment methods

Conservative treatment

Conservative treatment can be used for patients with hallux valgus who only have the deformity and no symptoms or have mild symptoms:

1. Wearing loose or open-toed shoes can reduce friction on the medial protuberance and delay further progression of hallux deviation and other toe deformities by reducing compression on the forefoot;

2. The use of hallux valgus orthoses, night splints, and intertoe pads may temporarily relieve pain and slow the progression of the deformity;

3. If you have bunion, you can do physical therapy and hot compress.

4. Orthopedic insoles combine the biomechanical principles of human movement to redistribute plantar pressure and correct the force line of the lower limbs, so as to achieve the purpose of preventing and treating hallux valgus at the same time. At the same time, it also provides a good preventive effect on the recurrence of hallux valgus after surgery.

Surgery

For patients with severe hallux valgus or those who do not respond to non-surgical treatment, surgical treatment can be considered. Surgical methods include joint fusion, osteotomy, etc., which can correct hallux valgus by changing the joint structure. Although surgical treatment can cure hallux valgus, it requires a certain amount of time for recovery and rehabilitation exercises after surgery.

With the improvement of living standards, people are paying more and more attention to foot and ankle diseases. In order to provide the most accurate diagnosis and the best treatment plan, our team's gait analysis laboratory is equipped with the most advanced lower limb biomechanical analysis equipment.

①Mirror pressure test equipment: Mirror pressure test uses the principle of mirror reflection to intuitively observe the plantar pressure, arch type and biomechanical line of the lower limbs.

② Plantar scanning test equipment: Through 3D technology and white light mode projection, a 3D CAD model of the foot can be obtained through reverse engineering processing, which can accurately evaluate the abnormal conditions of the patient's lower limbs and obtain various foot data, such as foot shape, arch index, degree of inversion and valgus, etc.

③ Portable gait analysis equipment: Patients wear insoles equipped with sensors to perform a one-minute walking test, which can not only obtain the spatiotemporal and phase parameters of their walking process , but also obtain dynamic parameters , providing an objective and quantitative scientific basis, reducing the demand for space and manpower, and making gait assessment more efficient.

Through these advanced equipment, our team is able to provide each patient with the most accurate diagnosis and the most appropriate treatment plan, helping them recover their health and improve their quality of life as soon as possible.

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If you have any problems with your feet and ankles, you are welcome to come and consult us. Let us move towards a healthy path together!!!