How orthotics and foot exercises change the biomechanics of hallux valgus (bunions)
A Study on the Biomechanical Mechanisms of Orthotic/Physical Training Correction of Hallux Valgus and Its Impact on the Lower Limbs
This project will test whether wearing orthotics or doing foot exercises for 12 weeks can change how the foot and lower limb move in people aged 18–45 with bunions.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 45 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Southern Medical University, China Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Guangzhou, Guangdong) |
| Trial ID | NCT07036120 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The project enrolls mainly young adults with bilateral hallux valgus and assigns them to 12-week interventions using either orthoses or targeted foot exercises. Researchers will record kinematic and kinetic data with motion capture, measure muscle activity with surface electromyography, and image soft tissues with musculoskeletal ultrasound before, during, and after stopping the interventions. The protocol compares changes over time and between intervention groups and builds a database of in vivo biomechanical characteristics for this population. Outcomes focus on how conservative treatments alter foot and lower-limb mechanics rather than surgical endpoints.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18–45 with bilateral hallux valgus (hallux valgus angle >15°), right-leg dominant, with no lower-limb surgery or neuromuscular gait disorders and no treatment for hallux valgus in the prior 3 months.
Not a fit: People older than 45, those with unilateral hallux valgus, recent treatment for the condition, prior lower-limb surgery, or neuromuscular disorders causing gait abnormalities are unlikely to benefit from this specific protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help tailor conservative therapies to improve foot alignment and walking mechanics and potentially reduce symptoms and progression in young adults with hallux valgus.
How similar studies have performed: Previous small biomechanical studies have shown that orthotics and foot exercises can change foot mechanics, but large-scale or long-term clinical outcome data are still limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Hallux valgus angle \> 15° * Age 18-45 years * Right leg dominant (based on the Waterloo Foot Questionnaire) * Bilateral hallux valgus Exclusion Criteria: * History of lower limb surgery or neuromuscular diseases causing gait abnormalities (such as lumbar disc herniation and chronic ankle instability) * Any treatment for hallux valgus within the past 3 months
Where this trial is running
Guangzhou, Guangdong
- Southern Medical University — Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Lei Qian
- Email: dorisql712@126.com
- Phone: +8615626469836
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.