Pro Foot and Ankle Center doctors & hammertoe specialist provide top quality foot care including hammertoes, causes, surgery and other podiatry services, diagnosis & treatments to patients in Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, North Hollywood, Woodland Hills, Sun Valley, Marina Del Ray, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Van Nuys, Valley Village, Toluca Lake, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Wilmington, Lomita, Torrance, Carson and Redondo Beach & Harbor City, California. Our local clinics not only provide the best foot care services & symptoms diagnosis they also offer specialized podiatry treatment options. We accept most major private insurance plans as well as Medicare, Medical card and PPO!
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Hammertoe is the deformity or bending of one or both joints of the second, third, fourth or fifth the toes. This abnormal bending puts pressure on the toes when wearing shoes thus causing problems to develop. Hammertoes normally start out as mild deformities and progressively worsen over time.
Usually hammertoes are caused by wearing high-heeled, ill-fitting or tight shoes for a long period of time. Tight shoes that don’t fit well can crowd the toes, putting pressure on the middle toes and causing them to curl downward. Hammertoe may also be caused by a bunion, a knobby bump that develops at the side of your big toe. A hammertoe may be inherited or caused by arthritis in the toe joint.
Symptoms of Hammertoe
The symptoms of hammertoe include:
- A curling toe
- Foot Pain and or discomfort specially in the toes and the ball of your foot or the front of the leg specially when toes are stretched downward
- Skin thickening above or below the affected toe along with the formation of corns or calluses
- Difficulty finding shoes that fit well
- In its early stages, hammertoe is not obvious.
Prevention of Hammertoe
Hammertoe can be prevented in most cases by wearing properly fitting shoes which gives the toes enough room. Recommended guidelines to avoid hammertoes include:
- Avoid shoes with narrow toe area.
- Selecting shoes that are longer than your longest toe by at least half inch.
- Avoid wearing high-heeled shoes for a long period of time.
- Choose shoes with wide or boxy toe areas.
