We can experience pain in multiple toes, but the most common one is the great toe (your big toe). I’m sure you’ve seen someone with a big toe that points toward the other toes which usually creates a bunion (boney prominence on the inside of the big toe joint).

Our feet just like our hands are super important for function with everyday activities. Our hands are important for picking up objects and performing fine motor activities such as typing, writing, etc. Our feet are the foundation for our body and allow us to navigate the world with little thought on how to walk, perform stairs, run, etc.

The thumb for the hand is equivalent in terms of function as the big toe is for the foot. The big toe needs a certain amount of mobility to walk, run, kneel and also a certain amount of control to stabilize the foot/ankle and other joint above it (hip, knee, etc.).

Without a proper functioning thumb, you can imagine how difficult it would be to lift heavy objects and perform fine motor activities. The same is true for the big toe and how important it is for proper foot function and to minimize other joints and structures becoming painful overtime.

Seeing a physical therapist can be a game changer to assess toe/foot function in addition to other areas that may be contributing to the altered toe/foot function. Once we have an idea of what is going on, receiving quality hands on treatment can make a significant difference to improve mobility in addition to specific progression of exercises and movements to reinforce the mobility in addition to addressing stability deficits.