A hammertoe refers to the abnormal bending at the centre joint of a toe. Hammertoe normally happens on your second, third and fourth toes. With severe hammertoes, the toe may sometimes overlap or go underneath a nearby toe. This condition can affect any toe on your foot. Although hammertoes can happen at birth, it normally occurs as people get older and can be a result of multiple factors.
A hammertoe is a treatable condition. In order to get rid of the hammertoes and stop new ones from forming, you may need to change your lifestyle and your footwear.
Common conditions that cause hammertoe:
There are numerous conditions that can lead to hammertoe formation. Some of the common risk factors have been discussed below. You need to know these conditions so that you can avoid them.
1- Toe injury:
A traumatic toe injury can be a cause of the hammertoe disorder. It is best to avoid activities which could injury your toes and if you sustain an injury, you need to have it evaluated to make sure there are no fractures.
2- Arthritis:
There are multiple types of arthritis and they can all lead to hammertoes. Autoimmune type arthritis, such as Rheumatoid arthritis, commonly cause hammertoes.
3- High heels:
Sometime high heels can cause excess stress and pressure on the toes which may ultimately lead to hammertoe formation.
4- Extremely tight fit shoes:
If you wear shoes which do not fit to your foot, hammertoes can be created by jamming and pressure of the toes within a shoe.
5- Foot Type:
Certain foot types such as a high are foot are very prone to forming hammertoes since the tendons overpower one another and cause the digits to claw.
How to prevent Hammertoe:
Once a hammertoe has formed, it is difficult to reverse the process. The best treatment for hammertoes is to prevent them from forming in the first place. The following are some hammertoe preventive measures:
Wearing well-fitting shoes:
As tight shoes can lead to a hammertoe, you need to wear shoes which fit just right. Some patients also benefit from custom inserts to help decrease the formation of hammertoes.
Avoid shoes with a tight toe box:
Avoid any shoe which is very tight or jammed in the toe box. This can cause unnecessary pressure on the toes.
Foot exercises:
Foot exercises keep your foot flexible and healthy. Exercises like moving toes may help to lessen the development of contractures that causes hammertoe.
With proper modifications and treatments, the pain associated with hammertoes usually disappears. In some cases, if the digits are very contracted, they may require surgical intervention. This is generally a progressive condition which means that the longer you wait to have treatment, the worse it may get. It’s ideal to seek treatment when the condition starts appearing. We have experts that can diagnose the problem, offer treatments options, and prove instant relief. Come check us out today for all your Hammertoe problems.