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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Physiol.

Sec. Skeletal Physiology

Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1473278

The impact of corrective exercises, kinesiology taping, and mechanical correction on pain and foot shape in women with hallux valgus

Provisionally accepted
  • Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Applied Sciences in Tarnow, Tarnow, Poland

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: This study aimed to assess the effect of corrective exercises and exercises supplemented by kinesiology taping or an orthosis on pain and foot alignment in women with hallux valgus (HV).Methods: Eighty-two women with HV were randomly divided into groups: E (n=24) who exercised for 12 weeks; EKT (n=18) who exercised and used kinesiology taping on HV; EMC (n=15) who performed exercise and used an orthosis to correct their big toe position; and CHV (25 women with HV without therapy). Additional control group C: (n= 31) women with normal hallux. The Wejsflog index, Clarke's angle, alpha and beta angles, and pain intensity in the big toe area were assessed at the beginning and after therapy.The Wejsflog index was significantly lower in women with HV and increased significantly after therapy in the E and EKT groups. Clarke's angle did not differ between women with and without HV, and Clarke's angle did not change after therapy. The HV angle decreased significantly in groups E and EKT but was still significantly greater than that in group C. The fifth toe varus angle did not differ between women with and without HV and decreased significantly in the right foot after therapy in group E. Pain in the HV area decreased significantly in all groups undergoing therapy.Conclusions: Women with HV have a greater forefoot width, but their longitudinal arch and fifth toe position do not differ. Exercises significantly reduce pain and improve hallux alignment. Combining exercises with kinesiology taping or an orthosis does not increase the therapeutic effect. Although the observed effects of conservative therapy are promising, it should be remembered that long-term effects have not been studied.

    Keywords: Hallux Valgus, Pain, Women, Physiotherapy, conservative treatment

    Received: 27 Sep 2024; Accepted: 26 Mar 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Jankowicz-Szymańska, Wódka, Smoła and Bibro. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Agnieszka Jankowicz-Szymańska, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Applied Sciences in Tarnow, Tarnow, Poland

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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