Hammer toes are frequently seen by podiatrists since they can be a reason for pain in the foot. A hammer toe is a word which is commonly used to explain any type of toe disability, but a hammer toe is really a particular deformity of a toe. The hammer toe deformity commonly only affects in one toe at what is known as the proximal interphalangeal joint. This is the joint near the base of the toe and it is directed upward and also the end of the toe points down.
The leading sign of the hammer toe will likely be when something like a corn builds up on top of the toe from your shoe pressure and becomes painful. This usually comes about when you're using tight shoes which places pressure on the top as well as end of the toe. There might be a bursa that occurs below the corn or instead of the corn. Most of the symptoms that develop result from pressure from the shoe on the toe. You may also have a callus that grows below the metatarsal head at the base of the toe on the ball of the feet. To begin with, a hammer toe will be flexible, but when its been there for a long time it can become more inflexible.
Hammer toes develop from a number of things. In many instances many people are simply structurally prone to have hammer toes suggesting a hereditary risk. Restricted shoes are a key point in the cause of hammer toes. The tight shoes in addition provides the pressure which causes the pain. It is also considered that less strong small muscles in the feet could also lead to hammer toe development.
Hammer toes prevention is difficult as signs and symptoms don't usually begin until the problem is well-established, so it's well along the way. The using of footwear which have additional room in the toes helps the pain from the hammer toes or at least slow down its progression.
There are numerous approaches that podiatry practitioners can take to handle a hammer toe. The very first strategy which may be crucial that you adhere to is advice relating to proper footwear. There needs to be the right amount of space in the toe box of the shoes that will enable room for the toes to move without having high pressure on them. If a corn occurs on the toe then this will need to be treated. During the early stages if the toe is still flexible, it can be a possibility to use braces or strapping to try and retain the toe at a fixed posture. Until the footwear is adequately fitted then that can often be unsuccessful. Podiatry practitioners often use padding so you can get pressure off the toe that can help the signs and symptoms. If these conservative treatments are not successful at helping the pain, then surgical procedures are usually a good alternative. Surgery to fix a hammer toe can be done as a day treatment if needed. There are various various kinds of surgeries which they can use depending on the foot alignment and if the deformity is flexible or inflexible. If you have a hammer toe which can be causing pain, it is a good idea visit a podiatrist.