Written by Laura Ramus, PT, ATC.
One of the most common foot health problems in adults is hallux valgus. The primary goal of hallux valgus therapy is to reduce pain, which affects 76%–83% of people with this deformity and to improve the positioning of the first toe. A recent 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).
What they found was 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.
The question that should immediately enter our minds, how can TECAR therapy elevate the rehabilitative care of hallux valgus? With the primary goal of treatment being reduction of pain, TECAR is a perfect adjunctive treatment. First to address the related soft tissue with CET and then a focused treatment of RET over the first MPT joint. Hi-TENS added to the RET treatment could further enhance the pain management treatment.
This study also indicated exercises significantly reduced pain and improved hallux alignment. Based on this information, you should introduce TECAR Therapy to the soft tissue and MPT joint passively with the initial treatment and then progress as soon as possible to include the TECAR Therapy DURING the exercise program.
An example of this would be performing Toe Swapping, piano playing or great toe abduction / adduction while Winback has the following set up and settings:
RET: LOW, 40%, DEEP, Hi-TENS Dynamic, for the duration of the exercise program, 6-10 minutes.
