If addressed as known as Claw toe, a common foot disorder called hammertoe can cause discomfort, pain, and trouble with mobility. Maintaining your lifestyle depends on foot health regardless of your level of activity—that of an athlete or someone just trying to keep active. Although many people suffer from hammertoe, it can be controlled with correct education and care. We will explore in this blog post what Claw toe is, its causes, symptoms, and the various therapy choices accessible.
What is a hammertoe?
One or more of the smaller toes develop a deformity known as hammertoe, in which case the toe curls or has a “hammer-like” appearance due to its bent middle joint. Usually occurring in the second, third, or fourth toe, this aberrant bent is usually progressive. The disorder may begin as a little annoyance, but without treatment, it will get worse over time.
Two Types of Hammertoe:
- Early-stage hammertoe, in which the toe is still flexible and effortful straightening of the toe is possible,
- More advanced and severe, rigid Claw toe causes the tendons in the toe to become stiff, making movement either difficult or impossible.
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Why Does Hammertoe Occur?
Hammertoe can arise for a number of reasons, including :
1. Unsuited Shoes
Wearing shoes that are excessively tight, thin, or have high heels might put too much pressure on the toes and cause them to bend. Claw toe may eventually result from this.
2.Genetics
Specific foot structures cause some persons to be prone to hammertoe. Should you have a high arch or a flat foot, you could be more likely to get Claw toe.
3.Trauma:
Hammertoe can be more likely in cases of toe injuries, including stubbing or breaking them.
The muscles in your toes cooperate in pairs to maintain their straightness, so balance the tendons. When these muscles go out of balance, the tendons can force the toes into a curling motion.
Other foot conditions, including bunions, arthritis, and other foot deformities, can aggravate Claw toe by altering foot weight distribution.
Hammertoe's symptoms
The degree of the disease will determine if hammertoe causes mild to severe symptoms. Typical indications include:
- Pain near the top of the bent toe from walking or shoe usage.
- Friction against shoes causes corns or calluses to often develop on the top of the toe or ball of the foot.
- The problem gets more challenging to move or straighten the toe as it advances.
- Redness and swelling can result from inflammation and irritation, particularly in cases of calluses or corns development.
Also you can Learn more about Morton’s Neuroma
If You Have the above Symptoms:
See a foot and ankle expert if the hammertoe is causing you problems. Usually, a podiatrist will perform a physical examination of your foot, analyze your medical history and order X-rays to check the alignment of the bones and joints. Early detection can help prevent the illness from getting worse and lessen the need for surgical intervention.
Hammertoe Treatment Options
Treatment for hammertoe mainly relies on the degree of the disorder and the length of persistence of it. Treatment of hammertoe is more straightforward the earlier you address it. The following are a few often-used treatments:
1. Conservative Approachologies
Non-surgical therapy can help with mild to moderate hammertoe and stop more development.
- Changing to comfortable, well-fitting shoes is the first step in controlling hammertoe. Look for shoes with a broad toe box to lessen pressure on the toes; steer clear of high heels.
- Custom-made orthotics can help balance pressure on your feet and alleviate hammertoe-caused pain. They can also help prevent the disease from getting worse.
- Exercises for strengthening and stretching help increase the flexibility of the toes and the balance of muscles and tendons. Simple activities such as stretching the toes manually or picking up little objects with your toes can be beneficial.
- Over-the-counter cushions and pads can relieve strain on corns and calluses, and taping the toe can momentarily help align it.
- Over-the-counter painkillers, including aspirin or ibuprofen, can help to lower inflammation and discomfort.
2. Operating Treatment
In more extreme cases—where the toe has become stiff and non-responsive to conservative treatments—surgery could be advised. Aiming to restore normal toe function and alleviate pain, surgical choices
- In the operation, the physician repositions or releases the tendons, dragging the toe into a bent posture enabling it to lie flat once more.
- Joint fusion is the permanent straightening of the damaged toe joint by fusing the bones involved.
- The surgeon could cut some of the bone to straighten the toe and enhance its alignment.
Although surgery is usually a last choice, even if it is typically beneficial in curing hammertoe, often required for a complete recovery after surgery are physical therapy and rest.
How To Prevent Hammertoe?
Mostly, preventing hammertoe is dependent on keeping good foot health and choosing wise shoes. These pointers will help prevent hammertoe development:
- Select shoes that allow your toes to migrate freely. Perfect shoes are those with low heels and a broad-toe box. Steer clear of pointy-toed shoes and anything that pushes your toes into an odd posture.
- Regularly do activities meant to stretch and strengthen your toe muscles. Maintaining flexible feet lowers your chance of acquiring abnormalities.
- See a podiatrist right away if you see any changes in your foot anatomy or experience pain. Early intervention helps to avoid aggravation of disorders, including hammertoe.
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Conclusion
Although first seeming as a small problem, untreated hammertoe can seriously affect your daily life. The good news is that you can comfortably get back on your feet with several efficient treatment choices ranging from fundamental lifestyle changes to sophisticated surgical techniques. See a foot and ankle specialist right once if you believe you have hammertoe or are otherwise suffering foot pain. Our team at Florida Foot and Ankle Clinic is committed to providing professional treatment to maintain your health and free from the pain of your feet.
Don’t let Hammertoe keep you back; start the road toward relief right now!
