Hammer toes are frequently dealt with by podiatry practitioners because they can be a reason for pain in the feet. A hammer toe is a phrase that may be widely used to refer to any type of toe disability, but a hammer toe is really a particular deformity of a toe. A hammer toe deformity generally only affects just in one toe at what is called the proximal interphalangeal joint. This is the joint near the base of the toe and it is directed upward and the end of the toe points down.

The leading manifestation of the hammer toe is often when something such as a corn builds up on top of the toe through the footwear pressure and will become painful. This often happens if you are using restricted footwear which applies pressure on the top or perhaps end of the toe. There may be a bursa that develops underneath the corn or rather than the corn. The majority of the signs and symptoms which develop are due to pressure coming from the shoe on the toe. There could also be a callus which develops underneath the metatarsal head at the bottom of the toe on the ball of the foot. In the beginning, a hammer toe is flexible, but when its been there for a long time it may become more rigid.

Hammer toes are caused by a number of risk factors. In many instances some individuals are simply just biomechanically vulnerable to develop hammer toes implying a hereditary factor. Tight shoes are a key point in the explanation for hammer toes. The actual tight fitting shoes in addition gives you the pressure which causes the pain. It's also believed that less strong intrinsic muscles in the feet can also play a role in hammer toe development.

Hammer toes prevention can be tough as signs and symptoms don't usually begin before the issue is more developed, so it is well on the way. The using of footwear with extra room in the toes could help the problem or at least lessen the pace of its development.

There are various methods that podiatrists might take to deal with a hammer toe. The very first method this really is imperative that you adhere to is advice regarding correct footwear. There has to be the correct amount of space in the toe box of the footwear that will allow space for your toes to move without having excessive pressure on them. When a corn occurs on the toe then that will have to be treated. In early stages when the toe is still flexible, it could be a possibility to use splints or tape to try to hold the toe in a fixed posture. Until the shoes are properly fitted then that can be unsuccessful. Podiatrists frequently use felt padding to get pressure off the toe that will help the signs and symptoms. If these types of traditional methods are unsuccessful at helping the pain, then surgical procedures are frequently a good alternative. Surgical treatment to fix a hammer toe may be undertaken as a outpatient treatment if needed. There are numerous various kinds of procedures which can be used depending on the foot structure and if the hammer toe is flexible or inflexible. When you have a hammer toe which can be resulting in issues, it is a good idea visit a podiatrist.