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Hammer Toes
Hammer Toes
Definition
A hammer toe is a toe that is contracted at the PIP
joint (middle joint in the toe), potentially leading to severe pressure
and pain. Ligaments and tendons that have tightened cause the toe's
joints to curl downwards. Hammer toes may occur in any toe except the
big toe. There is often discomfort at the top part of the toe due to
rubbing against the shoe.
Hammer toes are classified based on the mobility of
the toe joints. There are two types - flexible and rigid. In a flexible
hammer toe, the joint has the ability to move. This type of hammer toe
can be straightened manually. A rigid hammer toe does not have that same
ability to move. Movement is very limited and can be extremely painful.
This sometimes causes foot movement to become restricted leading to
extra stress at the ball-of-the-foot, and possibly causing pain and the
development of corns and calluses. Follow this link to learn more about
hammer toe products.
Cause
Hammer toes result from a muscle imbalance which
causes the ligaments and tendons to become unnaturally tight. This
results in the joint curling downward. Arthritis can also lead to many
different forefoot deformities, including hammer toes.
Treatment and Prevention
Changing the type of footwear worn is a very important
step in the treatment of hammer toes. When choosing a shoe, make sure
the toe box (toe area) is high and broad, and can accommodate the hammer
toes. A shoe with a high, broad toe box will provide enough room in the
forefoot area so that there is less friction against the toes.
Other conservative treatments include using forefoot
products designed to relieve hammer toes, such as hammer toe crests and
hammer toe splints. These devices will help hold down the hammer toe and
provide relief to the forefoot. Gel toe shields and gel toe caps are
also recommended to eliminate friction between the shoe and the toe,
while providing comfort and lubrication.
If the problem persists, consult your foot doctor.
Foot Health Information Provided By:
Foot.com
