Hammer Toes
Are your toes becoming twisted or crooked? Do they hit the
top of your shoes? Is it difficult to wear your shoes?
Are you experiencing pain? You are most likely developing a
deformity of your toe(s) known as a hammer toe. A
hammer toe is a deformity or contracture of the
first or both joints of the second, third, fourth and/or
fifth toe causing it to be permanently bent, resembling a
hammer.
Signs and
Symptoms
Common symptoms of hammertoes include pain and irritation of the
toe(s), formation of corns (hardening of the skin where there is
friction or contact with the shoe) on the top or sides of the toe,
and calluses on the bottom of the toe or the ball of the
foot. Hammer toe most often happens when you
wear shoes that fit poorly so that the toe is forced
into a bent position, such as excessively high heels or shoes that are too short
or narrow for your foot. Having the toes bent for long
periods of time can cause the muscles in them to shorten or
contract, resulting in the hammer toe deformity. People with
hammer toes also often have bunions or other foot
problems. It can also be caused by muscle, nerve, or joint
damage resulting from conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid
arthritis, stroke, or even
diabetes.
Treatment
In many cases, conservative treatment consists of physical
therapy and new shoes with toe boxes that are comfortable and
spacious. This is often enough to resolve your hammer
toes. Painful corns and calluses can be trimmed and padded to
provide more immediate relief. However, in more severe
or longstanding cases surgery may be necessary to relieve the
pain and discomfort. We may also
prescribe exercises that can be done at home to stretch and
strengthen the muscles of your toes. For example, the
individual can gently stretch the toes manually, or use the toes to
pick things up off the floor. While watching television or
reading, one can put a towel flat under the feet and use the toes
to crumple it up repeatedly. We may also prescribe a
brace that pushes down on the toes to force them to stretch out
their muscles.
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