Menu

Hammer Toe Management... Where To Find The Latest Treatment Information.

What Is A Hammer Toe?

A toe which curls over or is flexed at the proximal (middle) toe joint of the smaller toes.

This problem may be either flexible or rigid based on the movement available at the affected joint.

What Causes A Hammer Toe?

There are a number of causes. These may include:

  • Bone and muscle imbalances due to incorrect foot posture often allows development to occur. This may be excessive pronation (roll-in) or excessive supination (roll-out) which causes muscular and/or bone imbalance.

  • Arthritis can also give rise to hammer toe development; or

  • Prolonged use of incorrect or poorly fitting footwear may also contribute to the deformation of toes.

    How Are Hammer Toes Prevented?

    Preventing their development means controlling bone and muscle imbalances due to malalignment. This is usually carried out using a specific combination of exercises, mobilisation, orthotic shoe inserts and occasionally hammer toe splints are used.

    How Are Hammer Toes Treated?

    Initially, the hammer toe treatment will involve:

  • Review of footwear;
    This will include the use of a shoes with a broad or deep toe box and various types of useful toe supports including:

  • hammer toe crests or toe bolster supports;

  • toe caps lined with gel can help where skin irritation or corns occur; or

  • Orthoses or orthotic shoe inserts to control the causative factor, namely the abnormal foot alignment, should be used when needed.

    What happens if hammer toes are left untreated?
    Hammer toes can cause abnormal pressure and skin irritation. Calluses and corns can result and in serious cases ulceration or infection may occur. Early treatment can lead to successful results without hammer toe surgery if you have a flexible hammer toe deformity. If your hammer toe is rigid then the only real effective cure is usually hammer toe surgery.

    If you need further assistance, consult your podiatrist, chiropodist or foot doctor.



    WARNING : This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional podiatric advice. Treatment will vary between individuals depending upon your diagnosis and presenting complaint. An accurate diagnosis can only be made following personal consultation with a Podiatrist, your Doctor or your foot specialist.

    Still have a question about your foot problem, leg pain or you just need some footwear advice?

    Visit our Foot Problems page and ask us a question about your specific problem. We'll do our best to help.

    To find a Podiatrist or Foot Doctor near you visit our Find a Podiatrist page and click on your country.

    Return to Home page

    Recent Articles

    RSS

    1. My FootDr Modbury... Adelaide Podiatrists servicing South Australia.

      Apr 29, 18 07:31 AM

      My FootDr Modbury is part of a group of Adelaide Podiatrists servicing the north eastern suburbs of South Australia. Registration with the Podiatry Board of Australia enables all our Podiatrists to le…

      Read More

    2. Foot pain solutions, podiatry and orthotic questions answered.

      Mar 20, 18 04:33 PM

      Foot health answers for patients, podiatrists, foot pain practitioners and practice managers. Foot and leg injury solutions from qualified Podiatrists.

      Read More

    3. Find a Modbury podiatrist
      in South Australia

      Mar 16, 18 01:51 AM

      A Modbury podiatrist... Podiatry Board of Australia registered podiatrist. Podiatry Care Modbury podiatrists have a special interest in heel pain and childrens foot problems.

      Read More