If you have toes that bend downward like claws and what look like knuckles that stick up, you likely have a condition called hammertoe.
What Is Hammertoe?
Hammertoe is a common foot deformity defined by a bend in the middle joint of one of your toes.
With this condition, you’ll notice:
- The distinctive bend in your affected toes
- Pain when moving your toes
You may also have a few other conditions that usually accompany hammertoe.
- Bunions--many people with hammertoes also have the characteristic bump on the side of their big toe.
- Corns and calluses. Corns and calluses develop due to the friction when your toes rub up against your shoes.
What Causes Hammertoe?
Hammertoe can develop due to various factors:
- Faulty Foot Structure: Individuals with flat feet or high arches are more prone to developing hammertoe. In the high-arched foot, the tendons on top of the foot are overworked pulling the top of the toes up and the tips of the toes down. People with flat feet tend to pronate or roll their feet inward. As the arch collapses the toes claw up.
- Improper Footwear: Wearing high heels or shoes that are too tight can force the toes into a bent and crowded position. This abnormal position can also lead to hammertoe.
- Foot Injuries: Trauma such as stubbing a toe or fracturing a bone in the foot
- Muscle Weakness: Poorly balanced toe muscles can cause one or more toes to contract leading to the signature clawed position.
Initially, hammertoes will be flexible but eventually, they’ll become stiff causing corns and calluses.
Who’s at Risk of Developing Hammertoe
Certain people are more susceptible to hammertoe:
- Older Adults: As we age, our muscles and ligaments can weaken, increasing the risk of hammertoe. Also, the longer we’ve worn improper shoes or gone without correcting improper foot alignment the more likely these will contribute to hammertoe development.
- Women: Women are more likely than men to develop hammertoe due to wearing high heels or other restrictive footwear.
- Morton’s toe: If your 2nd toe is longer than your other toes, you're more likely to develop hammertoe due to the pressure exerted on that toe over time.
- Bunions: I’ve already mentioned that bunions and hammertoes are often found together. That’s because the same issues that cause bunions also cause hammertoes.
- Other illnesses: Individuals with arthritis, diabetes, or other illnesses that affect the feet are also at higher risk.
How to Treat Hammertoe At Home
Fortunately, you can effectively manage hammertoe at home in its early stages.
- Choose the right footwear: Avoid shoes that force your toes into an unnatural position. Opt for comfortable, supportive footwear with a wider toe box and a heel of no more than one inch.
- Consider using special hammertoe pads or cushions to relieve pressure and discomfort.
- Apply ice packs to the affected toes several times a day to reduce inflammation and pain.
- Consider using over-the-counter pain medications to manage discomfort associated with hammertoe.
In Office Treatment for Hammertoe
If your hammertoe pain increases and you can no longer manage it at home, your podiatrist will likely recommend the following treatments:
- Custom orthotics. They can be very helpful in repositioning the toes to relieve pressure.
- Splinting or taping the affected toes can also help correct their positioning.
- Stronger medications may be prescribed to alleviate pain and inflammation.
Minimally Invasive Surgery for Hammertoe
If conservative treatments do not provide relief, minimally invasive surgery may be considered. We do this surgery right in our office. This surgery corrects the deformity by releasing the tendon or ligament causing the toe to bend abnormally.
Minimally invasive procedures typically result in faster recovery times and less post-operative discomfort compared to traditional surgery.
Preventing Hammertoe from Getting Worse
While you can’t totally avoid hammertoe you can prevent it from getting worse. The best way to that is through proactive measures:
- Wear shoes that fit properly and provide adequate space for your toes to move freely and avoid high heels.
- Perform exercises to strengthen and stretch the muscles in your feet and toes.
- If you have flat feet and overpronate, get your faulty foot mechanics treated early. Custom orthotics can help realign your feet preventing them from overpronating which can result in a hammertoe.
