hammertoe – Anderson Podiatry Center

Welcome to Hammertoes 101.

In the last blog, we learned all about what a hammertoe is, and about the different types that can occur. For a quick recap, a hammertoe is essentially a bent toe; it is when your toe bends or curls, instead of pointing forward.

There are two types of hammertoes: a mallet toe (when the toe is flexing downward only at the very end of the joint) and a claw toe (when the toe flexes at both joints). There are also hammertoes that bend and rub against the neighboring toe. Though some hammertoes are worse than others, they all offer a certain degree of pain and discomfort.

Today, you’ll learn about prevention & treatment

Before we delve into preventative measures, it’s important to understand what causes hammertoes. A popular notion is that you can control whether you get a hammertoe or not. This may be true in some cases, which I’ll cover later, but in most situations there is relatively little that can be done.

There are several causes of hammertoes:

An imbalance between the tendons that pull the toes up (extensor tendons) and the tendons that pull the toes down (the flexor tendons) can cause the deformity.
Neurological conditions such as neuropathy can cause muscle weakness, which in turn may lead to hammertoes.
If one toe is abnormally long, a tight fitting shoe may cause it to buckle.
Genetics plays a big part. If you have a less than ideal bone structure for the foot type you were born with, you may be predisposed to hammertoes. A very high arched foot may contribute to this problem and the opposite, a very flat foot, may do the same.

Alright, now for the good part.

What can you do to help prevent this pesky ailment?

When the second toe is longer than the first, shoe gear is a consideration. Make sure you fit the shoe to the second toe. It may feel like the shoe is a little loose or big, but it’s much better than scrunching the toe in there, and winding up with a painful hammertoe.

Other than in this instance, shoes can do little to prevent hammertoes, so please don’t feel guilty if you have one, as it’s usually not your fault. As I tell patients, it’s more a function of the parents you chose and the foot you inherited.

But, there’s good news.

How do you treat hammertoes?

Hammertoes, though frustrating and sometimes very painful, can be treated.

If there is a corn present, trimming done professionally (to prevent cutting too deep or injuring the toe) can provide relief especially in the earlier stages.

Hammertoe correction surgery may be necessary to correct the more severe deformities. This is a relatively simple procedure and most patients typically walk the day of surgery in a stiff soled postoperative shoe.

If you are suffering from one or even multiple hammertoes, there is no need to suffer any longer. Come see us and get back to the activities you enjoy and the shoes you’ve missed!

Make an appointment here.

What are hammertoes?

Hammertoes are the often painful deformities on toes that occur when your toe bends or curls instead of pointing forward and so it rubs against your shoes. You may not realize it, but there are different types of hammertoes. A hammertoe is really just a bent toe. This sounds simple enough, but there is a more to it than this.

There are two types of hammertoes:

If the toe flexes downward only at the very end joint (the joint closest to the toenail) it is called a mallet toe. In a mallet toe, the toe overall is straight. But, the joint closest to the toenail flexes downward causing you to walk on the tip of the toe. This becomes uncomfortable because each toe has a fat pad on the bottom. The toe rests on the fat pad, sort of like the rear end you’re sitting on as you read this. When the toe bends down too much, the tip of the toe is pressed upon, where there is no padding, just skin and bone. This type of hammertoe is the rarest, though it is just as correctable.

If it flexes at both joints in the toe it is called a claw toe. When a claw toe rubs against the shoe, a corn forms on the top of the toe, which often becomes painful.

What causes a hammertoe?

Hammertoes can occur when a toe crowds its neighbor. When you think of a hammertoe, you may envision a toe that is bent and sticks up rubbing against the shoe. However, in many situations, the toe may be deviated towards its neighboring toe. Typically, any of the smaller toes are more likely to drift towards the big toe rather than away from it. When this occurs, frequently not only is the toe hammered, but it is also angulated towards the neighboring toe. One toe rubbing against its neighbor may cause all kinds of problems, such as a blister, open sore, or corns between toes rather than just on the tops of them.

The fifth toe likes to cause problems:

Though all toes can become a hammertoe, the fifth toe is most common. This may be the smallest toe, but it causes the most frequent problems. It can have a hammertoe, with a downward flexion in the joints. But, it can also be twisted so that it rubs against the next toe. This may lead to a corn or sore area on that side of the toe, giving toe number four a sore also. Or, the pain can be on the outside where the knuckle may rub against the shoe. In these situations, with toe number five, surgery is the most common treatment to correct the problem.

So, now you are armed with knowledge about all the different “ins and outs” of hammertoes. What can you do to help prevent and treat them? Stay tuned for part two of this post to find out!

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Hammertoes 101- Part 2