Toe Deformities
Some ailments of the feet are easily disguised and can go untreated for years. However, there are a few that need to be treated in the earliest stages to get any relief from the symptoms.
For example, fairly common diseases of the foot are known as toe deformities. These ailments are oftentimes caused by a muscle imbalance in the foot. This can be caused by several factors such as flatfeet, a traumatic injury, or disease of the toe joints.
Because the ailment of flat feet means that the foot is longer than that of a foot with a normal arch, the flexor muscles become overpowering. The toes are generally not strong enough to resist this tension which results in one of two deformities:
Hammertoe - which is when the proximal phalanx causes the outer two joints of the toe to bend downward.
Claw toe - which happens when the middle bone is pulled downward causing the proximal and middle phalanges to buckle upward.
TOE DEFORMITIES
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-Hammertoe if left untreated, these ailments can lead to other problems such as calluses or scenarios where two bones fuse together making the only treatment a painful surgery that can require weeks of recovery. This diagnosis is best treated in the initial stages to avoid advanced development that may not be fixed with surgery.
Characterized by a bending of one or both joints of any but the big toe, hammertoe is a common podiatric issue. This condition causes difficulties in wearing shoes, which often exacerbates the problem. If you suffer from hammertoes, you may notice one or more of the following symptoms: Corns between toes or on the top, side, or end of the toes. Corns are a buildup of skin caused by friction at the contact point between the toe and shoe. Calluses on the bottom of toes or on the ball of the foot. Calluses are rough, dry patches of dead skin that have built up. Pain or irritation when the toes come into contact with the shoe. Hammertoes and their symptoms generally worsen over time, as the friction between the foot and footwear becomes more severe. If left untreated, they can become rigid, and open sores may form. If you are suffering from this condition, it is important to seek help sooner rather than later as they will not heal without treatment of some kind.
-Treatment options include changing footwear, padding the corns and calluses that form, trimming the corns and calluses, custom orthotic footwear or devices, anti-inflammatory medications, and splinting the affected toe. Surgery is recommended in some severe cases. Contact us today to discuss your hammertoe problem and we will begin finding a viable treatment option right away.
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-Claw Toe is when the toes are bent in abnormal ways and may look somewhat similar to the claw of an animal. As the toes tend to curl and bend with this condition, it can be quite uncomfortable and cause other issues. Clawed toes are also commonly associated with hammer toes, another type of toe deformity.
-Treatment options for clawed toes depend on the severity of the condition. We offer a range of treatment options that can be tailored to the severity of the issue and some can be used preventively to minimise the risk of further injury or the need for surgery. Treatments for Claw Toe can include simple measures such as stretching exercises, wearing comfortable shoes with a roomy toe box, or using orthotics to correct the movements creating the hammer toes. For more severe cases, surgery may be necessary to correct.