Our toes play an important role in our posture, balance and supporting body weight. In doing this, they endure a considerable amount of pressure as they bend and grip to stabilize the feet and lower body. Walking on uneven terrain, such as hiking through the woods, can be challenging to navigate. Our toes help to stabilize us to keep us from losing our balance!
Our feet are a complex part of our body with dozens of bones, ligaments, and muscles. The body’s muscles have an agonistic and an antagonistic action. In other words, for active movement to occur in our body, one muscle pulls in one direction, and the other pulls in the opposite direction. When it comes to our toes, this creates movement such as flexion and extension. If the muscles attached to the toes are unbalanced and one pulls more than the other, a toe deformity can occur.
What is a hammer toe?
A hammer toe describes a toe that is bent at the first “knuckle” or joint from the base of the toe, causing the tip of the toe to contact the ground, instead of the padded, pulpy underside. A hammer toe can develop on any toe on the foot, but most commonly affects the second toe. Pressure and friction can cause calluses or corns and subsequent pain and discomfort on the tip of the toe and / or on the top of the toe joint. Toenails are also at risk of injury and damage, which can lead to thickening or ingrown toenails.
What causes a hammer toe?
- Genetics
- Toe injury
- Ill-fitting footwear
- An issue with how the foot moves when walking, causing an imbalance of the muscles around the toes as they compensate due to foot instability
What can help a hammer toe?
- If a hammer toe is mobile and can be moved and straightened, a toe prop can be worn to help “prop up” the tip of the toe and reduce contact with the ground. Toe props are typically made of silicone and are available off-the-shelf or can be custom made. They are functional devices that can help straighten the toes when standing and walking. Toe props help offload the pressure and friction on the tips of the toes and reduce the likelihood of painful callus, corns, and wounds.
- Over time, joints may develop arthritis, stiffening and becoming rigid and fixed in a bent position. When this happens, silicone toe sleeves can be worn over the toe to protect the skin over a bent joint. Sleeves provide a buffer between the skin and footwear, reducing friction and discomfort.
- Hammer toes can make finding comfortable footwear challenging. Footwear with an extra depth toe box will accommodate toe deformities and allow toes to move freely.
How can BioPed Footcare help with a hammer toe?
Left untreated, the pressure caused by a hammer toe can pose a more serious risk to your health. Without proper treatment to reduce pressure, skin breakdown and ulcers may develop. A foot ulcer is an open wound that can extend from the surface of the skin into deeper structures of the foot. They can be difficult to treat, particularly in people with diabetes, and can even lead to an amputation.
The lower limb clinicians at BioPed Footcare can help you find the right footwear that fits well and is suitable for your feet and toes. Custom foot orthotics are also effective at correcting issues in lower body mechanics that can lead to unwanted foot issues. If your skin or nails are bothersome, BioPed’s medical footcare clinicians can provide treatment and an array of solutions to help you do more in life!
