Hammertoes

Hammertoes

Hammer-Toes

Hammertoes get their name because the toe looks like a hammer when the joint is stuck in an upward position. This deformity happens when the muscles in your foot or leg weaken, and the tendons in your toe pull unusually. It can also hurt and make it hard to walk, and you may get a corn or callus on top of the joint. At some point, you might not be able to move the toe.

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Symptoms, Causes and Common Treatments

Hammertoes

Symptoms

  • Inflammation or irritation caused by rubbing
  • The presence of grazes or wounds due to the rubbing of the toes with the footwear
  • Flushing or redness
  • Pain – usually at the top of your bent toe.
  • Discomfort when wearing shoes

Causes

  • Inborn feet structure: flat, flexible feet and feet with high arches
  • Excessive use of too-narrow, ill-fitting shoes, such as high heels
  • Neuromuscular disease such as arthritis, poliomyelitis, and diabetes
  • Trauma from foot injuries or incidents
  • Inherited congenital alterations affecting the foot anatomy

Common Treatments

  • Using comfortable and wide shoes often
  • Exercising such as placing a towel rolled over the feet and crumpling it with the toes or lifting marbles with the toes to improve flexibility
  • Using insoles or orthotics to equally distribute the weight of the feet
  • Using a tape to push the toe into a normal position
  • Surgical treatment to modify the joint and reconstruct it in a normal position