Hammertoes
A hammertoe is a contraction deformity, resulting in bony prominence’s on the toes.
Source: British Columbia Association of Podiatrist – http://www.foothealth.ca/ Retrieved: 2009-06-01
Image Source: Wikipedia.org – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Toe_008.jpg Retrieved: 2009-06-01
Causes of Hammertoes
Heredity
Ill-fitting shoes
Muscle or biomechanical imbalance
Arthritis
What can you do?
Wear a supportive shoe with a deep toe box.
Apply cold compresses.
Soak the foot in lukewarm water to relieve pain.
What can a Podiatrist do?
Perform a physical examination
Request an X-ray, bone scan, CT, MRI or other imaging studies through G.P.
Perform trimming and padding.
Recommend an over-the-counter arch support or prescribe a custom orthoses.
Perform surgery as indicated.