Hammertoe

Hammertoe is a foot deformity that causes one or more toes to bend abnormally at the middle joint, resembling a hammer.

This condition can be painful and make it difficult to wear shoes comfortably. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for hammertoe is crucial for effective management.

Risk Factors:

Several factors may increase the risk of developing hammertoe including: wearing tight or narrow shoes, foot structure abnormalities, arthritis, trauma to the toe, genetics.

Symptoms:

Common symptoms include: toe(s) that bend downward at the middle joint, corns or calluses on the top of the affected toe, pain or discomfort when wearing shoes, swelling, redness, or inflammation at the joint.

Treatment Options:

Treatment for hammertoe may include:

Changing footwear: Wearing shoes with a roomy toe box and low heels.

Toe exercises: Stretching and strengthening exercises can help improve toe flexibility.

Orthotic devices: Custom orthotic inserts can help correct foot mechanics and reduce pressure on the affected toe.

Surgical intervention: In severe cases, surgery may be recommended to realign the toe joint.

Prevention:

To prevent hammertoe or reduce the risk, you can: wear shoes that fit properly and have a wide toe box., avoid high heels and shoes with narrow toe boxes, perform toe-stretching exercises regularly, maintain a healthy weight to reduce pressure on the feet.

Diagnosis:

A podiatrist can diagnose hammertoe through a physical examination of the foot and toes. X-rays may be ordered to assess the severity of the deformity and rule out other conditions.

  • Early intervention with conservative treatments like proper footwear and orthotic devices may help prevent the progression of hammertoe deformity.

  • Recovery time after hammertoe surgery can vary, but patients typically need several weeks to months to fully heal and regain normal function.

  • Prolonged use of high-heeled shoes with narrow toe boxes can contribute to the development of hammertoe by putting excessive pressure on the toes and altering foot mechanics.