Treatment methods
We tailor treatment to your symptoms
In general, in the early stages of the disorder, we can greatly alleviate your symptoms through conservative measures and eliminate the need for Hallux rigidus surgery. The right shoe is great at providing significant relief. There are a wide variety of Hallux rigidus shoes available which will let you walk again with ease.
Conservative treatment methods
Hallux rigidus: treatment without surgery
The goal of conservative treatment is to reduce the stress on your joint, the pressure on the bony outgrowths, and joint inflammation and swelling.
An insert with a stiff sole serves to transfer the rolling movement of your foot to the sole of your shoe. Your big toe then bends upwards less when you roll your foot, stopping pain.
Adjusting the sole of your shoe using a so-called rocker sole can also help. This is a rounded piece of rubber that is glued to the outside of the sole of your shoe. It reduces the flexibility of the sole around the big toe joint, making rolling movements in the shoe easier.
One proven method, particularly with sports shoes, is to hollow out the sole underneath the big toe and fill the cavity with very soft material. During rolling movements, your big toe is immersed in the soft material and pressed less in the instep direction.
Shoes with soft top material and lots of toe room provide your big toe joint with enough space. These shoes often significantly reduce your symptoms, but aren’t very fashionable.
Our physiotherapists will be happy to demonstrate different exercise techniques that you can use to improve the movement of your big toe joint, as well as reduce inflammation. Osteoarthritis cannot be remedied through physiotherapy alone.
Anti-inflammatory medications such as Diclofenac and Ibuprofen can also have a positive impact on severe inflammations in the big toe joint. However, these medications should not be taken over long periods of time.
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