Hallux valgus—a case for a physiotherapist or only for a surgeon? Literature review

[Purpose] Hallux valgus is one of the most common deformations of the human foot, and it causes great difficulties for the patients. The aim of this paper was to review available medical literature in search of evidence which would justify implementation of physiotherapy, based on its effectiveness for patients with hallux valgus. [Subjects and Methods] The following databases were searched for applicable papers: PubMed, Google Scholar, Clinical Key and UpToDate. Full-text articles from the last 15 years were subjected to a review, which ultimately selected seven papers about hallux valgus therapy published over the past 12 years. These studies were grouped according to their design and level of evidence and classified depending on whether they concerned physiotherapy as postoperative therapy or as the only treatment. [Results] The studies included in the present analysis used the following interventions for patients with hallux valgus: exercise, manual therapy, gait training, taping and orthosis. All the studies showed beneficial effects and the most frequently observed results were reductions in pain and improvements in function. [Conclusion] The evidence found in the reviewed materials clearly indicates that patients with hallux valgus should not only be subject to surgical procedures but also undergo physiotherapeutic treatment.