A common physical complaint that many people will suffer from is hammer toes (also referred to as either retracted toes, mallet toes or claw toes), where the toes are permanently bent.
This can be caused by wearing shoes that are too small or which don’t fit well, or because of hallux valgus, a bunion where the big toe turns inward to face the other toes, leading to a bony bump forming at its base. This misalignment of the big toe can put additional pressure on the other toes, leading them to bend at the middle joint, resulting in hammer toes.
Hammer toes can be very uncomfortable, but you would be advised to seek medical advice and treatment to prevent your toes from freezing in their curled-up shape. You may also find that your ability to walk may be affected if you don’t seek treatment for the condition.
There are various ways in which you can treat the condition. For example, you could change your shoes to something with a wider, deeper toe box to reduce any pressure on your toes. You can also help relieve the pressure by wearing toe pads to provide cushioning, or you could use medical tape to hold your toes in the right position.
Can physio help with hammer toes?
If your hammer toes aren’t too advanced and the tissue in your feet is still relatively flexible, physiotherapy can be very beneficial.
Come to see us here at Clear Physio and we can carry out a physical examination of your foot to see how much flexibility you have. Manual mobilisation work can be carried out on the toe joints to stretch out any tightness in the tissue and to encourage typical movement in the joints.
We can also recommend some strengthening exercises to address any muscle imbalances, as well as helping with foot and arch alignment. If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with the team today.
