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 metatarsopha-langeal 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 (F value= 16.18,p<0.01) ,and the HV angle was significantly reduced by wearing shoes with newly 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 reduc-ing the HV angle and do not cause problems when worn by middle-aged or older women with a normal HV angle.