Hammertoe is a common foot deformity that makes the middle joint in the second, third, or fourth toe point upward instead of lying flat.
A mild hammertoe may not impact your ability to walk properly or use your foot, but if it’s not treated, your toe(s) may freeze in the upside-down V shape. This can lead to pain and other uncomfortable symptoms.
At Chicagoland Foot and Ankle, our team of board-certified foot and ankle specialists diagnoses and treats hammertoe deformities at our many locations in the Chicago, Illinois, area.
If you’re struggling with the pain and stiffness of one or more hammertoes, you may wonder if orthotics can help the condition. Here’s what our experts have to say.
Hammertoes develop when something pushes the toes out of alignment over a long period of time. Eventually, the muscles and tendons in your feet and toes acclimate to the cramped position and tighten up. They may tighten so much you can’t move your toes out of the curled position.
The main causes of hammertoes include:
Shoes with a small toe box or that lack substantial arch support can force your toes into unnatural positions. In addition, wearing high heels or shoes you’ve outgrown can lead to hammertoe development.
In both of these conditions, the muscles and tendons have to accommodate themselves to the foot’s unusual shape and may form hammertoes.
If you have naturally long toes, they may have insufficient room to lie flat in common shoe widths or sizes. The extra pressure on them can cause hammertoes.
Any condition that affects the feet, such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, can lead to an increased risk for hammertoes.
The development of a bony bump at the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint can push all your toes out of alignment and put extra pressure on them. In addition, the big toe may move under the second toe, forcing the middle joint into a hammertoe position.
Podiatrists group hammertoes into three different types based on their severity.
With flexible hammertoes, you’re able to bend and move the affected toes, but you can see the beginning of a noticeable curl in the joints.
With semirigid hammertoes, the affected toes are noticeably stiff or difficult to uncurl.
With rigid hammertoes, the most advanced form, the toes are frozen in the curled position.
Aside from the noticeable curl, hammertoe symptoms can include:
In addition, because the toe experiences pain and stiffness, it may affect your gait — the way you walk. This can lead to pain in your ankles, knees, hips, and even your lower back, as your body shifts to compensate.
Orthotics are custom shoe inserts that cushion and support your feet, including your toes. They can reduce the pressure on the top of the curled joint where the toe touches the shoe, and on the bottom of the foot where the “hammer” lands, helping to prevent the formation of painful calluses, corns, and blisters.
Orthotics, though, can’t fix the underlying problem. Once the toe has reached a rigid state, it most likely will need surgery to straighten it out and rebalance the muscles and tendons that support it.
If you’re dealing with the pain and rigidity of one or more hammertoes, Chicagoland Foot and Ankle can help. Call any of our locations (Mount Greenwood and Portage Park areas of Chicago, as well as Orland Park, Bartlett, Niles, and New Lenox, Illinois) to schedule a consultation, or book your appointment online today.
