Hallux Valgus

High heels exacerbate hallux valgus through two mechanisms. First, as the heel height increases, weight shifts to the forefoot, increasing pressure on the MTP joint. Second, a narrow toe box pushes the big toe inward, increasing the valgus angle. The same applies to ballet flats if they have a narrow toe box. Shoes equipped with a width of 2E or more, arch support, and cushioned soles minimize this burden. Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective Continuous pressure caused by narrow shoes leads to stagnation of Qi and blood in the meridian pathways on the inside of the big toe, causing the fascia around the joint to stiffen and blood stasis to accumulate. If shoe pressure continues while Qi and blood are already stagnant, the effectiveness of treatment is halved. At Dongjedang, we guide patients on shoe correction before starting treatment and use acupuncture and moxibustion to release the stagnant Qi and blood, maximizing the effect of shoe improvement.