I've been using the Sidekick Toe Bands along with the balance board for just a short time, and I'm honestly blown away by how much of a difference they've already made. Within my first few uses, I became far more conscious of actually engaging my toes when walking — something I never thought about before. The result? Not only less discomfort in my feet, but noticeably less pain in my shins, knees, and hips too.
I've been in and out of physical therapy for years trying to address these exact issues, and not one PT ever incorporated toe or foot strengthening into my program. Looking back, I think that was a huge missing piece. I've spent so much time, money, and energy searching for relief, and these simple tools have done more in a handful of sessions than years of other interventions.
That said, I do have two real concerns about the toe bands that I feel I need to flag honestly:
Durability: After only a few uses, I'm already noticing the threading starting to fray. I'm genuinely unsure how much longer they'll hold up, which is disappointing given how effective they are.
Slippage: The bands slip quite a bit during use, which is frustrating and disruptive to the workout. It breaks the flow and honestly makes it harder to stay motivated.
The concept and the results are truly impressive — I just hope Sidekick can improve the build quality to match. If they can address the durability and the slipping issue, this would be a solid 5-star product without question. For now, a strong 4 stars for effectiveness, with a note to the brand: please reinforce those bands!