What are hammertoes?
Hammertoe is a bending in the middle joint inside your toe. It can affect any of your little toes but usually happens in the second, third, and fourth toes.
Flexible hammertoe
Flexible hammertoe is a bent toe that you can still straighten.
Fixed hammertoe
Fixed or rigid hammertoe is a completely immovable middle joint.
Related conditions include claw toe — bending of both the middle and end joints — and mallet toe — bending of only the end joint.
Hammertoe can lead to many irritating issues, including corns or calluses from continual skin friction. The bent joint can be quite uncomfortable or painful, especially when you wear tight shoes.
If you have a severe fixed hammertoe, you may change your walking patterns. This irregular strain on other parts of your foot can lead to weakness, instability, and injury.
Why do I have hammertoes?
Hammertoe occurs when your inner-foot muscle balance grows disrupted. This imbalance triggers abnormal stress on the tendons and joints in your toe, and that, in turn, leads to hammertoe.
The underlying cause of muscle imbalance in your feet isn't always clear. Bunions, flat feet, and arthritis all change your foot balance, which increases the likelihood of hammertoes.
Some other factors that can potentially cause hammertoe include:
- Genetic history of foot deformities
- A middle toe that's longer than your big toe
- Foot trauma
- Shoes that shorten or crowd your toes
Hammertoes occur more often in women, and the risk increases with age.
What can I expect with hammertoe treatment?
The Rhode Island Foot Care team diagnoses the type of hammertoe and its cause before creating a targeted treatment plan. The team may recommend symptom management for milder cases of flexible hammertoe, such as:
- Changing your shoes
- Taping or strapping the affected toe
- Corn and callus treatment
- Custom orthotics
- Anti-inflammatory medication
For more serious cases, including most fixed hammertoes, the best treatment option may be surgery to realign your joint, muscles, and ligaments. Joint fusion, which prevents the toe from bending, is another option for a fixed hammertoe.
The board-certified group of fellowship-trained podiatrists at Rhode Island Foot Care offers customized hammertoe treatment using the most advanced innovations available. Book an appointment online or call the office nearest you for help today.
