Our Services / Hammertoes

What are hammertoes?

A hammertoe is a structural abnormality that causes one or more of your toes to stay bent in a claw-like position. 

Hammertoes are common and occur when there’s an imbalance between the soft tissues responsible for holding your toe straight. Anyone can experience a hammertoe, but they’re especially common in individuals with a history of foot-related trauma.

What are the symptoms of hammertoes?

The most obvious symptom of a hammertoe is a toe that stays in a bent position. You might also notice that your affected toe is hard to move or that it develops corns, calluses, or blisters on the top.

 If you regularly experience toe pain and you’re unable to hold one or more of your toes straight, make an appointment with the team at Inland Podiatry Group right away. 

Who is at risk of experiencing a hammertoe?

Hammertoes affect people of all races and genders, but several factors may increase your risk,  including:

• Being middle-aged or older
• Being a woman
• Having an abnormally long second toe
• Having an underlying medical condition like arthritis or diabetes

You’re also more likely to develop a hammertoe if there’s a history of hammertoes in your family. 

How are hammertoes diagnosed?

To diagnose a hammertoe, your Inland Podiatry Group provider reviews your medical history and asks about your symptoms, including when they started, if they’re worse at certain times of the day, and if you’re able to hold your affected toe straight.

Next, your provider has you take off your shoes and socks and examine your toes. They might also order a series of X-rays to assess the health of the bones and joints in your feet. After determining the severity of the condition, your provider develops a custom treatment plan.

How are hammertoes treated?

At Inland Podiatry Group, the team treats hammertoes using conservative and noninvasive treatments whenever possible. For example, you might benefit from wearing more comfortable shoes with a wider toe box or using custom orthotics.

Your provider might also have you perform at-home exercises and stretches to strengthen the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your toes and feet. 

If conservative treatments don’t relieve your symptoms, surgical intervention might be necessary. Inland Podiatry Group has an ambulatory surgical center on-site that provides a variety of minimally invasive procedures.

To explore the various treatment options for hammertoes, make an appointment at Inland Podiatry Group by calling the office or clicking the online booking feature today.