What causes hammertoe?
Hammertoes are caused by any number of problems including:
- Ill-fitting shoes that bend the toe
- Very high heels or shoes that are too small or narrow
- An acute toe injury
- An extremely high arch
- Tight tendons and ligaments around the toes
- Pressure caused by a bunion
Can hammertoes be fixed?
Most of the time, hammertoes can be fixed. The treatment depends on how severe or advanced the case of hammertoe may be.
A mild case of hammertoe that results from wearing bad shoes can usually be reversed by making better footwear choices. Properly fitting shoes can make all the difference. If a mild case of hammertoe is caused by high arches, a patient can try to alleviate the condition with toe pads, insoles or orthotics worn in the shoe.
In more severe cases, however, surgery may be the only option. A board certified foot surgeon can reposition or even remove affected bones or realigning misplaced tendons or joints.
If you have hammertoes, please call Podiatrist Centers today to start putting together a treatment strategy. Call us at 773-375-7106 for our Chicago office, or 708-422-4300 for our Evergreen Park office.
