Hammer Toes and Claw Toes
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Hammer Toes and Claw Toes
Hammer, mallet and claw toes are toes that are bent into odd positions. It may look strange or it may hurt, sometimes you can expect both. This problem most commonly happens in the four small toes rather than the big toe.
- When your toes bend toward the floor at the middle toe, then it is named as hammertoe. Hammer toe deformity causes the middle toe joint to rise. Generally, it affects the second toe and it often occurs with bunions.
- It’s a claw toe which affects the 4 smaller toes at the same time. The toes bend up at a joint where the foot and toes are meet. They bend down at middle joints and at joints that are near to the tip of toes. Claw toe deformity causes the toes to curl down toward the floor.
- Lastly, a mallet toe bends down at joint which is close to the toe tip. Although, it affects the second toe, yet there is a possibility to occurs in other toes also.
If you are noticing pain or something odd in your toes, go straight to an orthopedic doctor for the treatment of hammer, claw or mallet toes.
Here is the list of major causes of hammer, claw, and mallet toes. Have a look-
- Tight Shoes- Wearing narrow or tight shoes can cause toe muscles to get out of balance. If a person is wearing tight shoes for a long time, then it can bend the toes; due to which muscles get tightened and tendons contract or shortens.
- Abnormally long second or third toe or short first toe
- Hammer toes may be associated with bunions
- Injury to foot
- Women are more affected by this disorder because of wearing high heels.
- Clawing of foot is linked with other disorders like high arch, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, neurological problems, stroke, etc.
Besides looking odd, if you are finding these signs and symptoms, then maybe you are suffering from toe disorders-
- Feeling Regular pain in toes
- Difficulty in finding the perfect footwear
- Rub against your shoe wear. You may get corns or calluses when a bent toe press against other toe or your shoes. Or, when the tip of your toe touches with the ground.
- In worst cases, toe problem affects your balance, and makes it hard for you to even walk on your foot.
You can simply avoid the problem at an early stage by taking some serious precautions like- changing your footwear, using products that cushion your toe, stretching your toes and hold them in a comfortable position, taking over-the-counter medicine and so forth. But everything should be done under the supervision of an experienced doctor.
If the toes cannot be straightened of its own, it leads to a contracture. In such cases, surgery may be needed to correct the deformity. Hammer toe surgery may involve removing the joint, fusing it or doing a soft tissue release. Hence, to avoid those complications, make sure you are consulting Dr. Anuj Chawla.
- + Causes
-
Here is the list of major causes of hammer, claw, and mallet toes. Have a look-
- Tight Shoes- Wearing narrow or tight shoes can cause toe muscles to get out of balance. If a person is wearing tight shoes for a long time, then it can bend the toes; due to which muscles get tightened and tendons contract or shortens.
- Abnormally long second or third toe or short first toe
- Hammer toes may be associated with bunions
- Injury to foot
- Women are more affected by this disorder because of wearing high heels.
- Clawing of foot is linked with other disorders like high arch, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, neurological problems, stroke, etc.
- + Symptoms
-
Besides looking odd, if you are finding these signs and symptoms, then maybe you are suffering from toe disorders-
- Feeling Regular pain in toes
- Difficulty in finding the perfect footwear
- Rub against your shoe wear. You may get corns or calluses when a bent toe press against other toe or your shoes. Or, when the tip of your toe touches with the ground.
- In worst cases, toe problem affects your balance, and makes it hard for you to even walk on your foot.
- + Treatment
-
You can simply avoid the problem at an early stage by taking some serious precautions like- changing your footwear, using products that cushion your toe, stretching your toes and hold them in a comfortable position, taking over-the-counter medicine and so forth. But everything should be done under the supervision of an experienced doctor.
If the toes cannot be straightened of its own, it leads to a contracture. In such cases, surgery may be needed to correct the deformity. Hammer toe surgery may involve removing the joint, fusing it or doing a soft tissue release. Hence, to avoid those complications, make sure you are consulting Dr. Anuj Chawla.
