Hallux Valgus: causes, solutions, and benefits of the Atlantomed treatment

People who return to our Centers for the second session, after 5-8 weeks, report noticing changes in various areas of their bodies. Among these, the issue of hallux valgus is occasionally mentioned.

Some, with disbelief, state that the pain, which had progressively worsened over the years, now seems to be decreasing, giving the impression that the hallux is gradually returning to a straighter position.

Initially, we thought it was just a coincidence or a suggestion, fueled by the enthusiasm for the general benefits experienced. Therefore, we did not pay much attention to these testimonials.

However, as similar cases increased, we began to question whether the improvement in hallux valgus could actually be connected to the correction of the Atlas and the resulting postural improvement.

The people who never seem to forget us, even after years, are unfortunately those who did not benefit from the treatment. These individuals never miss a chance to point out the failure. Such an attitude shows that they did not understand the body’s mechanisms or the purpose of the treatment. Atlantomed aims to correct the position of the Atlas vertebra, not to "cure" specific disorders, as is clearly explained on the page Who is Atlantomed treatment for?. I wonder if these individuals also complain to their doctor every time prescribed medications fail to solve the problem, which happens in most cases, often causing side effects. But that, as they say, is another story.

Let’s return to the hallux valgus. Our observations have allowed us to identify a common denominator among people with hallux valgus: a forward-leaning posture. When photographed from the side, it becomes evident that their center of gravity is always projected forward!

This causes the weight, instead of being distributed on the heel, to concentrate on the forefoot. Over time, this chronic overload on the forefoot can promote the development of the hallux valgus, deforming the joint to adapt to an unnatural load. The joint, in its attempt to compensate for the excessive load, thickens and often deforms, leading to several negative consequences for the foot's functionality.

Support for our observations came from an Italian scientific study in which 120 people with hallux valgus were analyzed using a stabilometric scale (see below). The results showed greater pressure on the medial sides and forefoot, both in static and dynamic conditions, compared to individuals without this condition.

After the correction of the Atlas with the Atlantomed method, a general improvement in posture is frequently observed. In the specific case of the hallux valgus, individuals appear more upright statically, while from a lateral perspective, the center of gravity tends to shift backward. This new weight distribution alleviates the overload on the forefoot, promoting improvement in the hallux valgus. This can interrupt the painful and often inevitable process leading to surgery, promoting a more natural and less invasive recovery.

We would like to emphasize that Atlas misalignment is not the only possible cause of incorrect posture and the subsequent development of a hallux valgus. The postural imbalance described above can also result from a cranio-mandibular dysfunction or from wide or flat feet. The issue of hallux valgus is often the result of multiple contributing factors. However, in many cases, Atlas dysfunction has proven to be the determining factor.