What are toe separators?
If you’ve ever googled toe or foot pain, there’s a good chance you’ve been inundated with ads for toe separators—foot devices that, well, separate your toes.
Also called toe spacers, they’re usually made out of hard plastic, soft silicone, foam, or rubber. They come in a variety of colors, styles, and sizes, and range from a few dollars to up to $100. (Silicone-based “yoga toes,” for instance, come in at $30.)
You can even find types that are infused with scented oils, crystals, magnets, or metals for what manufacturers claim are extra “healing” properties.
Sure, they may look a little silly. But how do they work, and can they actually help with toe or foot pain? First things first: You need to get an idea of what might be causing your pain.
What causes toe and foot pain?
Treating the pain without addressing the underlying condition won’t help and may cause more harm in the long run, says Kenneth Jung, MD, an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles.
Common causes of toe and foot pain include bunions (painful, bony bumps at the base of the big toe) and hammertoes
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