A hammertoe is easy to spot--it's characterized by a bent toe that curves in the middle of the toe at the joint, resembling the shape of a hammer. It most often strikes the second, third or fourth toe, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, and requires prompt treatment to prevent surgical repair. If you catch a hammertoe early enough, you can take steps to treat it on your own. Hammertoes that have long gone untreated generally require surgery to fix.
Step 1
Change your shoes. When toes get squished into stiff, unforgiving shoes that fit too tightly, a hammertoe can result. The first step in fixing a hammertoe is to ditch tight shoes in favor of properly fitting shoes with a soft material covering the toe. It's also important the shoes offer plenty of room in the toe area, notes the AAOS.
Step 2
Exercise those toes. You may be able to gently stretch and shape your toes back to their normal appearance with exercises and manipulation. Try simple exercises to strengthen the muscles in the toes, says the AAOS, like using your toes to pick up an object from the floor or bunch up a towel placed beneath your feet. Your doctor may also recommend other exercises to straighten and strengthen muscles in the toes to fix a hammertoe.
Step 3
Wear a splint. Splinting the toe can help straighten and fix a hammertoe that's still flexible, says the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Wear supportive inserts and pads over the sore spots (usually corns) on top of a hammertoe to help alleviate pain.
Step 4
Talk to your doctor about surgical options. Hammertoe surgery can be minor if the toe is still flexible and may only involve a small incision to help to cut or realign the tendon that's bending the toe. More rigid hammertoes require surgery to realign the bones in the toe joint to straighten and fix a hammertoe.
Tips and Warnings
- To help prevent a hammertoe, wear comfortable shoes that fit properly--avoid wearing tight, narrow high heels that pinch the toes.
- If you notice pain in the toes or your toes bending, it's important to see a doctor about a diagnosis and treatment to prevent a hammertoe from getting worse and requiring surgery.
Things You'll Need
- Properly-fitting shoes
- Splint
- Corn pads
- Shoe inserts
