HAMMERTOE PAIN RELIEF

Do you think about foot care? Most people do not, but long days on your feet, in your shoes, your genetics and more can lead to foot pain. These are just a few things leading to foot pain. Proper foot care can keep common foot ailments from escalating to severe foot pain or to a point where surgery is the only solution.

What better time than now to start a consistent foot care regiment. We know that many people experience foot pain after a long day on their feet. There are others that experience foot pain for some genetic reasons. And there are others that just haven’t prioritized foot care as part of their daily routine. There are many causes of general foot pain and there are several common foot aliments that you could be diagnosed with. 

• Do you have constant foot pain? 
• Do you think you might have a bunion, a hammertoe or plantar fasciitis?
• Have you been diagnosed with a foot condition?  
• Are you looking for ways to relieve that foot pain before surgery is the only option for correcting them?  

What is a Hammertoe?

HAMMERTOES ARE A COMMON FOOT AILMENT

A hammer toe is a deformity that causes your toe to bend or curl downward instead of pointing forward. While it most often affects the second or third toe, this deformity can affect any toe on your foot. Hammertoes & mallet toes are another common foot ailment that is commonly the result of poor foot care.

According to the Mayo Clinic, hammertoes and mallet toes are foot deformities that occur due to an imbalance in the muscles, tendons or ligaments that hold the toe straight. A hammertoe has an abnormal bend in the middle joint of a toe. Mallet toe affects the joint nearest the toenail. Hammertoe and mallet toe usually occur in your second, third and fourth toes.

What CAUSES a Hammertoe?

HAMMERTOE CAUSES

Hammertoes & Mallet toes can be caused by certain shoes such as high-heeled shoes or footwear that's too tight in the toe box which can crowd your toes and cause them to not lie flat. Hammertoes & Mallet toes can also be the result of an injury in which you stub, jam or break a toe making it more likely for that toe to develop hammertoe or mallet toe. Another cause can be an abnormal balance of the toe muscles. The imbalance leads to instability, which can cause the toe to contract.

COMMON CAUSES OF HAMMERTOE

• Wearing shoes that don’t fit properly
• Traumatic injuries in which toes are jammed or broken
• Damage to nerves and muscles from other conditions, such as arthritis
• Foot structure or anatomy such as an unusually high foot arch, tightened ligaments or tendons in the foot
  
• Pressure from a bunion, which is when your big toe points inward toward your second toe
• Diabetic neuropathy. This can cause abnormal foot biomechanics due to nerve and/or muscle damage.
• Genetics or heredity

BEST FOOT CARE TREATMENTS FOR Hammertoes

HAMMERTOE TREATMENTS

According to OrthoInfo, in the early stages of hammer toe—when the joint is still flexible—treatment typically consists of simple measures. Some include wearing shoes or boots that provide sufficient width in the toe box to ensure minimal compression. Use inserts that help the toes flatten out and spread and give sufficient support to the metatarsal arch in the forefoot. If hammer toes have already formed, padded socks help protect the tops and the tips of the hammer toes and may reduce pain from rubbing and chafing.

If the affected toe is still flexible, changing to footwear with a larger toe box and lower heels can allow the toe to realign itself and help reduce pressure and pain. If the toe has some limited flexibility, a podiatric physician or foot specialist may be able to straighten it simply by making an incision and releasing the tendon.

TOP AT-HOME HAMMERTOE TREATMENTS

• Wearing toe pads or insoles in your shoes
• Wearing shoes with a wider toe box or even sandals
• Foot alignment socks to stretch and align the toes
• Foot strengthening exercises

Our team of foot care specialists put together a blog with the Best Foot Exercises for Foot Pain & Prevention. 

BEST SHOES FOR HAMMERTOE PAIN

There is no one size fits all shoe that works for every person. We often see that the shoes you wear could be the cause of your foot pain. Couple that with poor foot care and you could be looking at surgery as your only treatment.

There are many factors that go into selecting the best shoe for foot pain from hammertoes. The best shoe for hammertoe pain may be a combination of shoe and orthotics. It may be a low-heeled shoe instead of those high heels and stilettos. It could be a shoe with a deeper toe box which gives your toes more room inside your shoe. We recommend consulting with a specialty shoe shop or your doctor for shoes tailored to your specific foot needs. 

FOOT ALIGNMENT SOCKS & NIGHT SPLINTS

Many physical therapists & doctors will recommend wearing a splint or socks that stretches your calf, the arch of your foot or toes for proper foot alignment.

This foot care solution can be simple and effective all while you sit watching TV or even while you sleep.

My-Happy Feet has patented alignment socks that do just that while providing a comfortable daily foot care treatment for most common foot ailments. Often these can be worn overnight and helps position your toes while lengthening and stretching. Buy a pair today by visiting our online store.

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