Hammertoes can develop at any age, but your risk for this type of foot deformity increases as you move through middle age and beyond. At Ohio Foot and Ankle Center, we see patients from Canton, Stow, and Rittman, Ohio, who are seeking effective treatment for hammertoes.
If you’ve noticed changes in the shape or position of your toes, we encourage you to come in as soon as possible to explore treatment options.
Hammertoe is the term used to describe a common foot deformity that happens in the joints of the toes. Specifically, hammertoes develop when something forces the second joint of your toes (not the big toe).
You can recognize hammertoes by the specific changes they create in the alignment of your toe joints. When a toe bends at the second joint and pushes the tip downward, the changes are likely due to hammertoe.
The raised second joint and downward-pointing tip of the toe cause the affected toe to take on a shape similar to the head of a hammer, which is how the deformity came to be known as “hammertoe.”
Anything that places undue pressure on your toe joints can lead to deformities, including hammertoe. One of the most common causes is choosing footwear that places pressure on your toes. High heels are a common culprit, but even flat shoes can squeeze your toes together and cause one or more joints to become misaligned.
Additional causal factors for hammertoe include:
Hammertoes generally develop in stages. During the initial stage, the joints remain flexible and can be moved back into normal alignment by hand. Later, the affected joints begin to stiffen, and it becomes more difficult to uncurl the toe. In the last stage, the misaligned joint is frozen in its curled position and cannot be straightened manually.
Aging can absolutely increase your risk for developing one or more hammertoes. That’s because the fat pads on your heels tend to thin over the years, shifting pressure onto your toes. Many people develop arthritis in their later years, which stiffens the toe joints and makes it more challenging to straighten the toes.
As the years pass, your tendons and ligaments tend to lose some of their flexibility, which can weaken toe joints. At the same time, many people experience nerve sensitivity and circulation problems, which can increase discomfort and skin issues when hammertoes develop.
It’s important to take prompt action if you experience any changes in the alignment of your toe joints. As mentioned above, your toes remain flexible in the early stages of hammertoe, and the problem can often be resolved by changing your footwear, using pads or taping to straighten the affected joints, or using custom orthotics to redistribute weight across the soles of your feet.
If your hammertoes are more severe or already stiff, you might need surgery to correct the misalignment and restore comfort. Most advanced hammertoes will not correct themselves; professional treatment is necessary.
The best way to address hammertoes at any stage is to come in to see a podiatry specialist at Ohio Foot and Ankle Center. Our practitioners can examine your feet, discuss your symptoms, and explain all available treatment options, including what to expect if you decide to forego treatment.
To book a visit at one of our offices in Canton, Stow, or Rittman, Ohio, just give us a quick call or use our online booking tool, available around the clock.
