When little toes cause big problems

Claw toe and hammer toe

What is that?

Claw toes and hammer toes are deformities that can be caused by another foot disease or by shoes that are too tight. 

The toes take on the shape of a claw or a hammer. In the case of claw toe, all three joints of the toe are affected. The toe is bent and thus "rolls up". The flexor tendons of the foot are stronger or shorter than the extensor tendons. This imbalance leads to hyperflexion. In the case of hammer toe, not all joints are hyperflexed, but only one. The other joint is hyperextended, which creates the visual impression of a hammer. 

How does this manifest itself?

Symptoms include pain in the joints of the toes. A permanent poor posture promotes the formation of arthrosis in the joints. Mobility is also restricted by the shortening of the tendons. As the toes "roll up", they often rub against shoes and pressure calluses and hard skin develop. In diabetics, the increased friction often causes wounds that require special treatment.  

Where does it come from?

Both deformities often occur as a so-called comorbidity of other diseases. This means that the foot actually has another serious disease that restricts it, and this restriction causes the patient to develop a hammer or claw toe. In patients who, for example, have a hallux valgus There is usually a shortening of the flexor tendons in the big toe. The shortening of this flexor tendon can also affect other tendons, and this is how a hammer toe or claw toe develops. 

Wearing shoes that are too tight also encourages the formation of a hammer or claw toe. Due to the limited space, the toes also "roll up" to counteract the pain when walking. The longer the toes remain in this rolled position, the higher the risk of chronic poor posture. 

What happens if I don’t act here?

If the little toes are no longer flexible, the natural stabilization and functional unit for maintaining balance is lost. This increases the risk of falling on uneven ground. The rolling process is also shortened, so that other joints have to compensate for this lack of function.

If the joints of the little toe are restricted in their movement, shoe conflicts often arise - painful corns can develop on the toes, which in turn cause additional pressure in the shoe. In the case of this type of pain, shoes must have enough space in the front area, both in height and width, so that walking can be relatively pain-free. This condition severely limits the choice of shoes in the fashion sector.

How do I find out if I have something like this?

The diagnosis is usually made through a clinical examination and anamnesis to determine the cause of the deformity. Once the cause has been identified, treatment can begin.

How do you treat this?

Treatment is usually carried out using conservative measures. Insoles can bring the toes back into a stretched position and stretch the shortened tendons. The insole should be very thin so that no additional space is lost in the shoe and stress on the toes is avoided. A toe bench may be helpful to stretch the claw toes. Supporting the longitudinal arch and straightening the transverse arch are also important measures to stretch and extend the shortened flexor tendons. All of the points mentioned can be mapped out with kokochii® insoles, which are only 2.5 mm thick at most. Other components are integrated individually to achieve the greatest possible effect.

Choosing the right footwear also plays an important role in preventing future poor posture. Regularly performing special exercises helps the tendons to stretch again.