The Bothersome Hammertoe
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Now that winter has arrived, closed toed shoes and boots are the norm du jour. Since we are in these shoes for longer periods than normal, our feet take the brunt of the abuse from the enclosed environment. One of the side effects of this abuse is the development of corns and hammertoes.
A hammertoe is a deformity where by one or more of the lesser toes are bent and cocked up. This can happen on any of the lesser toes (2-5). One or more toes may be involved, and I have found that the second and fifth toes are most often affected.
How does this happen? Each of the lesser toes has 2 small joints. Many times ill fitting shoes will force one or more toes to buckle in order for the foot "to fit into the shoe". This buckling results in one of the two toe knuckles becoming prominent. This prominence begins to rub on the toe box of the shoe (the part of the shoe above your toes). Shortly a corn develops at that pressure point. This corn, or hard skin, is simply a build up of extra skin over a pressure point. There are NO "roots" to this corn, contrasted to a wart, which sinks roots deep into the skin. The other major factor which may lead to hammertoes is a faulty mechanics of the foot. With improper biomechanics, the foot and leg muscles begin to function out-of-sync, one of the results being the forming of hammertoes.
Treatment of corns can be accomplished by different methods. One treatment modality involves using the over-the-counter non-medicated pads placed over the corn to reduce the friction and irritation from the shoe. Another method involves performing a simple office surgery whereby the involved joint is remolded and reduced.
Finally, the last treatment modality is the use of orthotics, to optimize foot mechanics. Our podiatrists can help in determining your best options.
| Dr. Kel Sherkin, | Printed: March 2007 |
Table Of Contents
- EREPORTS
- Achilles Tendinopathy
- Active Release Technique
- Acupuncture and You!
- An Introduction to the Sacro-iliac Joint
- An Introduction to Viscero Somatic Pain Referral
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
- Assessing Your Mental Game
- Back Pain - Courtesy of the Iliopsoas Muscle
- Biodex
- Bunions
- Choosing the Right Shoe
- Chronic Proximal Hamstring Pain in a Runner
- Golfer's Back
- Groin Strain
- Hamstring Strains
- Heat Alert! Exercise and Hyperthermia
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Intravenous Nutrition
- Is Acupuncture for You?
- Is Your Computer Hurting you?
- Knees - Your Friend or Foe?
- Leg Pain in Runners
- Low Back Pain and the Core Stabilizers
- Meniscus Tears
- Overtraining Syndrome
- Patellofemoral Paim Syndrome
- Pilates
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Platelet Rich Plasma Injections
- Plyometrics in Rehabilitation
- Predictable and Unpredictable Pain
- Q & A for the Injured Athlete
- Running Too Much? How to Stay Injury-Free as Race Day Approaches
- Shockwave Therapy
- Shoulder Instabilities Dislocations
- Shoulder Tendonitis
- Skier's Thumb
- Snowboarding Injuries
- Spring into Action ... Prevention!
- Stretching
- Tennis Elbow
- The Bothersome Hammertoe
- The Female Athlete Triad
- The No-Crave Diet
- The Thoracic Spine
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- When It Comes to Orthotics, First Impressions Count
Thank you for providing an integrated approach to health and fitness. I was referred to SEMI for physiotherapy for the debilitating pain of sciatica. As treatment progressed, I also added exercise, massage, osteopathy treatments and counseling with the dietician for weight loss, all available at SEMI. It was wonderful the way the services offered all worked together to compliment and support each other to promote recovery and renewed health. Today I am pain free and healthier and fitter than ever !
