What is Hammer Toe?

Hammer toe can also be called as claw Toe or mallet toe, is a condition where a bend develops at the joint on one of your toes usually the toe next to the big toe or the smallest toe — points upward rather than lying flat, giving it a hammer or claw like shape. Due to the bulging out of toe, trouble of walking arises. Hammer toes turn out to be more serious problem in people with diabetes and poor circulation as they have a higher risk for infections and foot ulcers.. The condition is mainly a abnormality that happens when one of the toe muscles becomes weak and puts pressure on the toe’s tendons and joints. This pressure forces the toe to become misshapen and stick up at the joint. The middle three toes are likeliest to be affected.

What are the potential causes of Hammer Toe?

• Fashionable ill-fitted shoes including heeled shoes
• Structure of foot problem since birth
• Arthritis
• Flow of blood to foot poorly
• Peripheral Neuropathy (having little or no feeling) in case of diabetic patients
• Toe injury
• Genes
• Aging
• Tight foot ligaments or tendons
• Spinal cord or peripheral nerve damage

What are the signs and symptoms of Hammer Toe?

• A downward bent toe
• Callus on the sole and corn on the toe of the foot
• Inability to flex your foot or wiggle your toes
• Pain while putting a shoe
• Swelled and red colored toe joint
• Rubbing and irritation on the top of the bent toe.
• Pain and discomfort while walking
• Cramping in a toe
• Putting on a shoe hurts the top of the bent toe.
• The ball of the foot under the bent toe hurts.

Why physical therapy treatments for hammer toe?

Treatment for hammer or claw toes at SOS PHYSIO can be quite helpful if the deformity of the foot is not too advanced and the tissues of the foot remain flexible.
SOS PHYSIO physical therapy treatment includes Manual therapy & Active Release Techniques (ART) that are designed to encourage your toes to return to their normal position and to avoid ongoing stress on the foot, which adversely affects the position of your toes.

Contact SOS PHYSIO for the customized treatment of any of your musculoskeletal deformities. Our skillful and professionals therapists craft out well coordinated and personalized treatment modules to help you to return to your normal activities as early as possible.