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Toe Shape
Toes are sometimes shaped differently and can be bent at a joint.
There are many different toe deformities, the most common being hammer or mallet toe.
Some are flexible and can be straightened out and rehabilitated. Some are fixed and cannot be straightened without surgery.
Causes
Symptoms
Treatment
Toe Stretch Exercise
Causes
- Common in first years of development
- Direct injury to the toe or repeated microtrauma from footwear
- Imbalance of foot muscles
- Congenital – family history
Symptoms
Symptoms include:
- The toes looks bent
- It can lead to painful thickened and inflamed skin – from footwear rubbing
- Pain under the ball of the foot from increased pressure
- Sore areas between toes
Treatment
Self-help and home treatments are the simplest and often the best method to resolve these problems.
Footwear
Shoes that fit poorly and are the wrong shape for your feet place unnecessary pressure on your toe. Wide fitting shoes with fastenings are the best.
Toe spacers
These can be helpful to reduce rubbing to the top and between toes. They help alignment of the toe and pressure relief. There are several types available at your local Chemist or online.
Toe Stretch Exercise
Simply put your toe in the position it should be. This stretches the shortened tendons. Stretches should not be painful but will be mildly uncomfortable during the stretch.
If you have persistent pain or lesions that cannot be resolved by these methods please seek Podiatry advice.
