Toe box

The toe box is the section of footwear that surrounds the toes on closed-toe shoes. Toe boxes that are too tight can cause injuries and foot deformities, whereas wider toe boxes may be used to treat or prevent common foot conditions such as Morton's neuroma. Toe boxes come in a variety of shapes and styles of construction, some of which are a matter of fashion, and some of which are designed for specialized functions. The toe box of a shoe should fit the wearer's foot without cramping or compressing it. A simple way to test if a toe box is too tight is to take out the insole of the shoe and stand on it. If the toes overhang the insole, the toe box is too small for the foot. The toe box also needs enough extra room to accommodate movements of the foot, such as lengthening arches and the splay of the toes. With each step, ankles and feet bend, toes spread and flex, and the arches of the foot flatten and rebound. Because the arches flatten, the foot lengthens and widens as it takes weight. Weight-bearing causes the foot to widen across the ball by up to . A foot with a higher longitudinal arch will lengthen more in use, and more room in front of the toes may be needed. When running, weight is shifted onto the ball and toes of the foot, with the heel barely touching the ground. A narrow toe box therefore hinders function more. High heels also shift weigh onto the toes. Generally, toes should not touch the toe box itself, at the end or at the sides. Toe boxes that put pressure on the foot slowly produce permanent deformities; toe boxes that strike the toes cause bruising; and toe boxes that rub hurt the skin. Narrowed toe boxes may also be linked to metatarsalgia (pain in the midfoot), metatarsal stress fracture, Haglund syndrome, Freiberg infraction, and Morton's neuroma. They can also aggravate bursitis. Too-tight toe boxes can permanently deform the foot, weakening it enough to significantly impair function. Tight socks can have similar effects, especially if the foot is already fairly deformed.