Your foot shape isn’t just a matter of aesthetics, although the appearance of your feet matters. Progressive foot deformities like hammertoes also disrupt your gait and put you at risk of blisters, calluses, corns, and even chronic foot pain.
At Town Center Foot & Ankle of Kingwood, Texas, Dr. Stephen G. Eichelsdorfer (“Dr. Ike”) and our team encourage patients to take hammertoes seriously.
You may have heard some myths about hammertoes, which are sometimes known as mallet toes. You might not understand why this type of progressive forefoot deformity occurs.
When you know the facts, you can take the right steps to protect or restore the correct shape and structure of your feet, preventing hammertoes or treating them in the early stages when simple interventions can make a big difference.
Fact: Hammertoes develop over time and get worse over time without treatment, so don’t ignore this type of podiatry problem. Seeking early treatment gives you the best chance of effective results with minimally invasive treatment methods.
When you have hammertoes, one or more of your small toes develops a structural weakness that leads to the toe being slightly bent over at all times. As the condition progresses, you may fully lose the ability to straighten the affected toe or toes.
You don’t want to let that happen to your feet, so don’t ignore early signs of abnormal bending in your toes. Get in touch with our Town Center Foot & Ankle team for evaluation right away.
Fact: The most likely factor in developing hammertoes is ill-fitting, unsupportive footwear. If you spend a lot of time in shoes that force your weight forward onto your forefoot, you’re much more likely to find yourself dealing with hammertoes.
Foot injuries, and underlying conditions, such as arthritis or diabetes, increase your risk.
Shoes with narrow toe boxes often cause hammertoes to develop. High heels, which shift your weight, can also be a problem.
And we should note that you may be able to reverse hammertoes in the early stages by switching to more supportive shoes or using custom orthotics from Dr. Ike.
Fact: While, in severe cases, you may need surgery to correct the underlying structural problem causing your hammertoes, you may be able to recover without surgical intervention. Dr. Ike suggests exploring conservative treatment options for hammertoes before deciding on surgery.
Your treatment for hammertoes may include splinting or bracing. This helps your foot stretch and strengthen the tendons that hold your toes in the correct position. Physical therapy stretches and exercises can help with this, as well.
If your hammertoes are causing painful corns or calluses due to the deformed shape of your front foot, you may need padding or taping to prevent harmful friction while your treatment takes effect.
Once you know the truth about hammertoes, you’re able to make the right decisions to protect and restore your feet.
If you’re concerned about developing hammertoes on one or both of your feet, contact Dr. Ike today at Town Center Foot & Ankle for evaluation and treatment. Request your appointment online or over the phone now.
