If you’ve noticed a toe that bends unnaturally or rubs against the top of your shoes, the culprit could be hammertoe. You’re not alone: Around 33% of Americans have hammertoes today.
At Michigan Foot & Ankle Institute, our fellowship-trained, board-certified podiatrists provide the latest hammertoe treatments in our office in Clinton Township, Michigan. We use modern, innovative techniques to ensure you can stay active.
When our patients come to us with hammertoes, they often ask about two things: How did the hammertoes form and what can I do about them? This month, we’re answering those questions in our blog.
Hammertoes happen due to muscle imbalances in the toes (typically in the second, third, or fourth toes). Those muscles connect to your toe tendons, which in turn connect to your joints.
The muscle imbalance causes a chain reaction that ultimately causes the middle joint in the affected toe to draw up higher than normal.
The underlying cause of that muscle imbalance varies, but common culprits are:
In many cases, a few factors might contribute to hammertoes.
At Michigan Foot & Ankle Institute, we take the time to examine your complete medical history. We carefully and compassionately assess symptoms like toe pain, stiffness, and calluses or corns related to hammertoes. Combining your medical history with a comprehensive foot exam gives us detailed information to create a customized hammertoe treatment plan.
Hammertoes are a solvable problem — but the earlier you start treatment, the easier this condition is to treat. In the early stage, hammertoes are “flexible,” which means the toe can still straighten (even if it takes some effort to hold it down.)
There are many options to treat flexible hammertoes, including:
When a toe won’t straighten anymore, our elite podiatric surgeons may recommend surgery for long-term relief. We use minimally invasive techniques whenever possible to repair hammertoes, bunions, and other foot and ankle deformities, diseases, and trauma.
Our surgical approaches vary with the situation and patient needs, but in general hammertoe surgery involves removing excess bone, realigning the affected joint, and repairing weak muscles and tendons.
Are hammertoes causing pain or even mobility issues? Don’t wait for the problem to worsen. Michigan Foot & Ankle Institute offers all the most advanced solutions for hammertoe in a comfortable atmosphere that’s close to home. We offer extended hours, so call us today at Garfield Road at 586-999-9953 or 15 Mile Road at 586-460-2138 to book an appointment.
