“Take a few minutes each and every day to ensure that your mind is nourished properly and positively. After all, a healthy mind leads to a happier view of life and with a happier view of life it is much easier to counter the negative impact other issues will have on us.” – Catherine Pulsifer
A hammer toe is classified as a deformity of the second, third or fourth toes. It is an orthopaedic condition that is created by wearing shoes that are too narrow for the feet. The feet adjust to their environment, by causing a realignment of the toes, in order to alleviate the stresses that are induced by the shoes.
How do shoes impact the formation of hammer toes?
With the variety of shoes that exist on the market, there are predominantly two types of shoes that are available: those that will hurt your feet, and those that will not. Hammer toes are formed via the wearing of incorrectly sized shoes for the feet. Over time, the toes will have a bend at the middle joint. The angular shape created by the toe, creates a shape much like a hammer.
Protecting your feet is critical, as hammertoes are actually painful, and over time the muscles, tendons and ligaments will be distorted as the toes are bent out of shape. When they are first formed, hammertoes are actually flexible, and as the shoe conditions persist, the toes eventually remain in their position. During the advanced stages of hammer toe, surgical intervention will be required in order to restore the toes to their original state. Hammer toe patients often experience:
- Pain in the toes. As the soft tissue distorts, movement will induce pain.
- Corns and calluses due to the fact that the toes are rubbing against the shoes due to the projections.
- Open sores on the toes
Some root causes of hammertoes are:
Shoes: Tight shoes or high heels are constricting to the toes.
Gender: Women are more prone to hammertoes due to the fact that they are more prone to tight shoes or high heels.
Injuries: During regular activities such as walking, a toe can be stubbed. Additionally, during sporting activities the feet are prone to impacts which can induce hammertoes.
An orthopaedic consultation will determine the severity of your hammertoe condition, and determine the next phase of your treatment. Your orthopaedic surgeon will usually prescribe either minimally invasive surgery, or other simpler treatments.
How are hammer toes treated?
Hammer toes are treated via non-surgical and surgical methods. Non-surgical methods include:
- Toe exercises to flex the joint. Stretch the toes to ensure that the joint is being exposed to both stretches and contractions.
- Changing your shoes from those that are tight and constricted to those that are roomier.
- Shoe inserts to facilitate the re-alignment of the toes.
If these methods aren’t effective, then minimally invasive surgical procedures can be recommended in order to treat the feet. Surgical treatments including methods such as arthroplasty, arthrodesis, tendon transfer, will help to realign the muscles,tendons, and any bones that may be in the incorrect position.
For all medical conditions including hammer toes, prevention is always better than cure. Critical actions you can take to maintain the health of your feet include:
- Ensuring that you have the correctly fitting shoes.
- Since women are the most affected, it is best to seek comfort rather than cosmetic appearances.
- Wearing flatter shoes or wedges instead of heels.
Your health…is your wealth. Consult with your orthopaedic surgeon for a customized treatment plan.
Reference Article:
- Medical News Today: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/315600.php
- Hammertoe: https://www.foothealthfacts.org/conditions/hammertoe
- OrthoInfo: Hammer Toe
