Your toes support balance and help propel you forward when walking or running. You may not give your toes much thought, until you stub them on a kitchen chair.
But any unusual bend or shape of a toe isn’t something to ignore, especially if it causes pain. Any toe deformity is more responsive to treatment during the early stages of development.
Our compassionate podiatrist, Dr. Richard Hochman, in Coral Gables, Florida, takes a proactive and preventive approach to foot health. If you have a toe deformity, whether it causes pain or not, now is the time to do something about it.
Keep reading to learn more about toe deformities and how we treat them.
Toe deformities include any unusual bend or shape to the toe. There are many types, but some are more common than others, such as:
A hammertoe is an abnormal upward bend in the middle joint of the second, third, or fourth toe. It’s called hammertoe because the shape of the toe deformity resembles a hammer.
With a mallet toe, the unusual upward bend affects the joint nearest the toenail, so the tip of the toe points down toward the floor or curls into the sole of the foot, like a mallet.
Hammertoe and mallet toe develop from tightening or shortening of the tendon that attaches the muscle to the joint at the toe. Shoewear, injuries, or foot arthritis may cause these types of toe deformities.
A claw toe causes the tip of the toe to bend into the foot because of an abnormal upward bend in the middle and top joint of the toe. Nerve damage in the foot is the most common cause of claw toe.
If you have an abnormal bend in any of the joints in your toe, schedule a consultation with Dr. Hochman. Toe deformities are flexible during the early stages, and early intervention may prevent or delay the need for surgery.
Getting your feet checked out may also uncover the cause of the deformity and help you take steps to address it.
We customize toe deformity treatment plans based on type, severity of the deformity, and underlying health condition or cause.
If we catch the deformity in the early stages when the joint is flexible, treatment may include changing the types of shoes you wear (shoes that allow more room in the toe box), exercises to strengthen the muscles, and orthotics to improve foot comfort and function.
If the bend is rigid and it causes pain or problems walking, we may recommend surgery to lengthen or replace the tendon or fuse the joint so the toe lays flat, restoring its normal position.
Toe deformities can cause foot problems, so it’s not something to ignore. If you have an unusual bend in one of your toes, call our Coral Gables, Florida, office today, located in the greater Miami area, or request an appointment online.
