These painful and deviated toes can lead to marked pain, as they rub on shoes and add extra pressure to the surrounding joints.

There are various types and stages of hammertoes; they will often start mild and flexible and it may only be the deviation that you first notice. Hammertoes will often progress though, becoming more retracted and fixed in their bent position. This is when they can lead to pain.

Bunions, trauma and shoes – Hammertoes can develop for a variety of reasons, often associated with bunions. As the great toe moves towards the lesser toes, the second toe will be pushed back and up. As the bunion increases in size so does the severity of the hammertoe. A vicious cycle then commences: the hammertoe moves further up off the ground leaving a larger space for the big toe to move into making the bunion bigger.

Hammertoes can also occur if the toe is excessively long. When shoes are worn they can push the toe up.

Hammertoes can develop following trauma, particularly when a structure on the bottom of the foot called the plantar plate is damaged. The plantar plate protects the joint that attaches the toe onto the foot. When this structure is damaged, the toe can retract back leading to the hammertoe. In extreme situations, when the hammertoe is marked, the plantar plate can rupture and the toe can dislocate, resulting in pain and deformity. The second toe can even cross over the big toe.

Hammertoes are often made worse by tight and high heeled shoes. When the toes are repeatedly squashed into the tight toe box, the toes can eventually be permanently damaged. Friction can occur and foot corns can be formed as the bony prominences rub on shoes. Eventually the corns can develop when any shoes are worn.

Treatment options – Bio Podiatry offers various options to treat the pain and deformity associated with hammertoes. If hammertoes are caught early, when mild and flexible, then exercises, padding, stretching, insoles and night splints may help reverse the deviation and nip the problem in the bud. Once rigid and markedly deviated, ways to allow you to live with the hammertoe pain-free will be carried out. This can involve trimming corns, manufacture of soft silicone deflective pads and shoe advice.

There is also a surgical solution for hammertoes and this has markedly advanced in recent years. The incisions are often minimally invasive with much quicker recovery times. Bio Podiatry podiatrists can discuss this with you if the non-surgical treatments are not producing ideal results.