Can Orthotics Correct Hammertoe?

Hammertoe occurs when one of your small toes stays in a bent position at the middle joint. Eventually, the kink becomes rigid, making your toe resemble a hammer. It’s often painful and may lead to other foot problems, such as corns or calluses.

The main culprit is wearing narrow or tight shoes that force your toes into awkward positions, leading to muscle imbalance. Wearing high heels exacerbates the problem by putting excessive pressure on your toes. Beyond footwear choices, hammertoes also develop from:

• Genetics 
• Arthritis
• Toe injuries 
• Diseases that affect nerves and muscles, like diabetes

Whatever the cause, board-certified podiatrist Francine Rhinehart, DPM has a treatment to straighten your toe and relieve your pain. 

How to live with and treat your hammertoe

Managing your hammertoe takes a combination of lifestyle changes and treatments. 

Choose the right shoes

Trade your narrow-toed pumps and wingtips for shoes with roomy toe boxes and low heels to reduce pressure on your toes. Look for cushioned insoles that provide support, and avoid shoes that cramp or squeeze your feet.

It’s important to measure your feet regularly. Ill-fitting shoes can worsen hammertoes and lead to additional foot problems. 

Shoes made of soft, breathable materials that allow for flexibility and comfort reduce friction and irritation on your hammertoe, making it easier to walk and go about your day.

Tape your toes

Wrap a piece of medical tape around the affected toe and attach it to the adjacent toe to straighten the hammertoe and prevent it from bending further. While taping provides temporary relief, talk to Dr. Rhinehart about how long and how often you should tape your toe.

Pad your shoes

Pads reduce friction and pressure on your hammertoe. Drugstores sell a variety of pads, including gel toe caps and foam toe sleeves that fit snugly over your toe, protecting it from rubbing against your shoes and preventing blisters or calluses.

Use pain relievers occasionally

Over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, reduce discomfort. However, while pain relievers can alleviate symptoms, they don’t address the underlying cause of your hammertoe. 

Do toe exercises

Toe exercises strengthen muscles and improve flexibility, so doing them regularly can improve joint mobility and reduce stiffness. Try simple exercises like toe curls, toe stretches, and picking up objects with your toes. 

Orthotics for hammertoes: What they can and can’t do

Orthotics are custom-made shoe inserts that support your hammertoe and your whole foot while correcting alignment. 

How orthotics help

Orthotics redistribute pressure away from your toes, reducing pain and preventing further damage. They also provide arch support and encourage proper foot mechanics, which can slow down the progression of hammertoes.

Dr. Rhinehart custom designs orthotics according to your specific foot shape and condition to alleviate strain on your toes and surrounding muscles.

Orthotics also address other foot problems, like flat feet and high arches, that contribute to hammertoes. By addressing these issues, orthotics create a more stable foundation for your feet.

What orthotics can’t do

While orthotics relieve several hammertoe symptoms, they can’t reverse the problem or straighten a rigid toe. They’re most effective for flexible hammertoes in the early stages of development.

Think of orthotics as part of a comprehensive treatment plan rather than a standalone solution. Combining orthotics with wearing roomy shoes and doing toe exercises boosts their effectiveness.

Signs that you may need hammertoe surgery

Conservative treatments don’t always resolve hammertoes, so you may end up needing surgery. Here’s what to watch for:

• Persistent pain
• Rigid deformity
• Interference with your ability to walk, wear shoes, or engage in activities you enjoy

If surgery becomes necessary, your feet are in the best hands with Dr. Rhinehart. She’s one of the country’s leading board-certified foot and ankle surgeons. She can lengthen the short tendon that’s pulling your toe out of alignment, transfer tendons, or fuse your joint into the proper position. 

Don’t walk around with a hammertoe that won’t straighten. Call Ankle and Foot Institute of Texas in Oak Cliff, Dallas, Texas, or request an appointment online today.