Is there a non surgical treatment for hammer toe?

There is no effective nonsurgical treatment that can correct a hammertoe deformity. Patients may find a relief by using shoes with a wide toe box, open-toe shoes, or custom shoes. Exercises of the intrinsic muscles in the foot can promote more muscle balance.

Can you realign toes without surgery?

Crooked toes can often be corrected by lifestyle strategies, such as choosing well-fitting footwear and avoiding high heels. At-home treatments, such as wearing a splint or toe spacer, may also help. If the crooked toe has become set and rigid, or if it doesn’t respond to at-home treatment, surgery may be recommended.

What happens if you don’t treat hammer toe?

At first, a hammertoe or mallet toe might maintain its flexibility. But eventually, the tendons of the toe can contract and tighten, causing your toe to become permanently bent. Your shoes can rub against the raised portion of the toe or toes, causing painful corns or calluses.

How do you permanently fix a hammer toe?

Joint resection can help with a fixed hammer toe. For this surgery, a doctor cuts ligaments and tendons to help straighten the toe and may also remove a portion of the bone. To keep the toe in place, the surgeon may insert temporary pins. These pins can be removed a few weeks after the surgery.

What is the best treatment for hammer toe?

What Are the Treatments for Hammertoes?

• Wear only shoes that are high and broad across the toes, called a wide toe-box shoe.
• Don’t wear heels higher than 2 inches.
• Wear the appropriate shoe for the activity you are doing.
• You can buy non-medicated hammertoe pads.
• Gently massaging the toe may help relieve pain.

How do you fix a hammer toe at home?

If your toe joint is flexible, you can also try: Taping a hammer toe. Wrap tape under the big toe (or the toe next to the hammer toe), then over the hammer toe, and then under the next toe. This gently forces the hammer toe into a normal position.

Should hammer toes be corrected?

A hammer toe is a deformity of the second, third or fourth toes. In this condition, the toe is bent at the middle joint, so that it resembles a hammer. Initially, hammer toes are flexible and can be corrected with simple measures but, if left untreated, they can become fixed and require surgery.

How do Podiatrists treat hammer toes?

Orthotic Devices: Custom shoe inserts made by your podiatrist may be useful in controlling foot function. An orthotic device may reduce symptoms and prevent the worsening of the hammer toe deformity. Surgical Options: Several surgical procedures are available to the podiatric physician.

Can Orthotics help hammer toe?

In order to help straighten, and relieve the pain that comes with having a hammertoe, it may be useful to look into wearing orthotics. Some common orthotics used to help hammertoes include toe wraps. Toe wraps are elastic bandages with a Velcro strap, used to bind the hammertoe together with the toe next to it.