What is Hammer toe?
It is a deformity where the toe bends unnaturally and becomes claw-like and is painful. It usually affects the second toe. When someone with Hammer Toe wears shoes, walking becomes painful as the toe is constantly rubbed.
Hammer toe Symptoms
- Usually the toe next to the big toe becomes claw-like and uncomfortable.
- A callus is formed on the sole of the feet and corn formation on the top.
What Causes Hammer toe
- When you wear either narrow or too short shoes, the tendons of the toe contract abnormally, forcing the toe to bend downward and the middle joint of the toe to protrude upward.
- Nerve damage due to diabetes mellitus is another factor.
Hammer toe remedies
- Avoid shoes with pointed toes and wear wide shoes.
- Corn pads or felt pads can be used to treat mild hammer toes and the pain can be relieved with the caps.
- The length of your shoes should be an inch longer then the longest toe and the soles should be as wide as your feet.
- Flat shoes are more comfortable, so keep the heeled ones only for special occasion.
- Buy new shoes at the end of the day when foot is swollen. In few people, one foot is longer than the other. In such situations buy shoes for larger foot.