Introduction
In patients with hallux rigidus, the first step is to try to treat it conservatively, i.e. without surgery. To this end, primarily insoles and special footwear are used to relieve the pain of the affected person and to restore the best possible mobility of the foot and thus a normal gait pattern. In addition, the Hallux rigidus insole relieves the degenerately altered metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe and the progression of the disease can be slowed down under certain circumstances.
Insoles for Hallux rigidus
The stiffening of the joint caused by the hallux rigidus is particularly noticeable when the foot rolls, which is why it should be supported especially during this movement by immobilizing the joint to a certain extent. In principle, it is possible to modify the sole of the shoe itself by inserting the rolling aid into the sole of the shoe between the outsole and the shoe, or to have an insole made, which has the advantage that it can be worn in different shoes. The most commonly used insole is the so-called ball roll.
It is placed in the front part of the shoe. It relieves the pressure on the ball of the foot mainly by reducing the rolling area and shortening the time of the rolling process. The ball roll is usually combined with a stiffening of the shoe sole itself.
In addition, there is also the toe roll, which can be advantageous in the case of muscle weakness, as it increases stability. The disadvantage, however, is that considerably more force is required to walk because it makes the wearer feel as if he is constantly walking uphill. Last but not least, there is the metatarsal roll for Hallux rigidus, which is good for relieving almost all ankles, not just the metatarsophalangeal joint.
However, this is bought by the fact that the knee is more unstable, making standing and walking more difficult. Another alternative is the spring insert (often referred to as Hallux rigidus spring), which is also often prescribed for Hallux rigidus because it relieves the joint, makes the rollover process easier, and is also comfortable because, unlike rigid insoles, it has the ability to adapt well to the individual foot shape and different movements. If for some reason the patient refuses to wear a Hallux Rigidus orthosis, there is still the option of wearing shoes with a very stiff sole, such as wooden clogs.
These can also lead to a significant improvement in pain for some people. Insoles that are prescribed and used as part of a complementary, conservative therapy of hallux rigidus are characterized by so-called rigidus springs. These are metallic springs or insole components that are attached to the bottom side of the insoles with the insole core in the area where the 1st ray of the foot will later be located.
The use of the rigidus spring under the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe is often combined with a lowering of the end phalanx of the big toe, which leads to a redistribution of force during foot strain. The stiffened metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe is thus relieved, relieving posture, reducing pain and healing inflammation. For the supportive, conservative treatment of a hallux rigidus, the manufacture of orthopedic insoles by an orthopedic shoemaker can be helpful.
A characteristic feature of hallux rigidus-specific insoles is the so-called stiffening spring, which is installed in the area of the insoles on which the 1st ray of the foot later rests, as the area of the affected big toe. Stiffening springs of different lengths can be used, which are usually attached to the underside of the insole and are combined with a lowering of the area of the end phalanx of the big toe. The effect is based on a better and gentler distribution of the forces that occur during foot strain, so that pain is reduced, an accompanying inflammation heals and a relieving posture is avoided.
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