Best Hoka Shoes for Hallux Rigidus
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Hallux Rigidus is a common condition affecting the big toe. It can cause stiffness, pain and swelling of the joint due to wear and tear. It is also termed arthritis of the big toe joint. Some people are born with this, but many more develop this over time. The stiffness can prevent the toe from extending fully, making walking and especially running difficult and impacting biomechanics further up the leg and body. Wearing the correct footwear can help to alleviate the symptoms of Hallux Rigidus by avoiding forcing the stiff joint to move.
James McCormack is a Physical Therapist specialising in knee, foot & ankle injuries. www.james-mccormack.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Earnings from this are used to create free-to-read content without affecting the price of the shoes we recommend.
The best Asics shoes for Hallux Rigidus will have a stiff sole or even a carbon plate, a rocker bottom sole to help with the movement from heel to toe without bending the toe, a low heel-to-toe drop, and plush cushioning. In our experience, from treating many patients with Hallus Rigidus, we recommend the Ascis.
We recommend the Asics Gel-Kayano 29 shoe for mild Hallux Rigidus.
The Asics Gel-Kayano 29 is a plushly cushioned shoe with a moderate heel-to-toe drop of 10mm. This is a higher heel-to-toe drop than the other shoes we recommend below, meaning it will put a little more pressure through the forefoot. But due to the good cushioning this wont be problematic for those with mild Hallux Rigidus.
It is also a stability shoe with an external heel counter and LITETRUSS™ stability feature on the midsole to prevent over-pronation. This prevents excessive load through the big toe.
Buy Men's Buy Women'sWe recommend the Ascis Evoride Speed for mild to moderate Hallux Rigidus.
The Asics Evoride Speed is a moderately cushioned shoe with a low heel-to-toe drop of just 5mm. This keeps the pressure off the forefoot and toe and reduces impact.
A key feature is a curved sole and the Asics GUIDESOLE™ technology which smoothly rolls the foot through each stride.
It also has a wide toe box to ensure no pressure against the big toe.
Buy Men's Buy Women'sWe recommend the Asics GlideRide 3 for moderate to severe Hallux Rigidus.
The Asics GlideRide 3 is a highly cushion with a low heel-to-toe drop of just 6mm. Meaning less pressure through the forefoot and big toe. It has a structured midsole to provide better stability to prevent over-pronation which also reduces pressure over the big toe.
The most important feature of this shoe for Hallux Rigidus is that the shoe has been designed with a curved sole. This and the Asics GUIDESOLE™ technology help the foot roll through the stride, by reducing extension through the big toe and load through the foot.
Additionally, this shoe has a wide toe box ensuring there is no pressure against the big toe.
Buy Men's Buy Women'sThis is not medical advice. We recommend a consultation with a medical professional such as James McCormack. He offers Online Physiotherapy Appointments weekly.