Can a person walk without toes?

Although a foot without toes will hinder stability, balance and strength, it is possible to walk without toes. People without toes often buy customized shoes containing toe inserts that help them walk.

People do not often lose all their toes. Diabetes is the number one cause of lower-extremity amputation in the United States today, and sometimes toes must be removed to ensure the health and safety of a diabetic. People who lose only a big toe may opt to purchase a prosthetic big toe, but this is usually unnecessary and done for cosmetic reasons.

People without toes can even learn to run again after training the rest of their foot and leg muscles to compensate for the missing phalanges.