Causes of hammer toe

If after a thorough visit to a doctor or a specialist you have realized that you too are among the countless people who have the characteristic of “hammer toe”, here are some practical advice, including gymnastic exercises and simple remedies. which can alleviate this ailment. 

Hammer toe is a joint transformation that primarily involves the toes from the second to fourth toes. It is a disease affecting the fingertip, similar but at the same time slightly different, compared to the “claw toe” or “mallet toe”. 

It often occurs among women, caused by shoes that are too tight or high heels worn for a long time, as the pressure exerted on the foot by this type of shoes leads to unnatural postures that force the foot to deform.

But even sportsmen can suffer from it : the hammer toe in the hands is typical of water polo players, for example. Or it can also be caused by trauma or injury , diseases such as arthritis or diabetes or a congenital predisposition.

Often the pathology of hammer toe is accompanied by pain, localized redness and inflammation of the joints. Calluses and a limp can also be related factors.

Before opting for the more invasive solution, so before the hammer toe gets stiff, you can try to remedy it through exercises and stretching , here’s how. 

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Barefoot exercises for hammer toe

Physiotherapists, podiatrists and osteopaths will certainly be able to indicate the most suitable exercises for each individual case. Generally and indicatively, exercises that allow you to mobilize the fingers in a gentle way , such as picking up a marble with the toes or stretching, trying to spread the fingers themselves, can be useful.

The stretches of the yogic practice of the toes, sitting, first forward then backward, very slowly, can also be useful.

Good tips for specific exercises for hammer toes, but not only, can be found on the website of Dr. Davide Mambrin , podiatrist and osteopath.

Foot health, should never be forgotten, passes through shoes : avoid daily high heels, even when young, and give space to your toes with comfortable, medium-low, soft and well-laced shoes or with good support.

Natural remedies for hammer toes: the spacer, foot baths and plasters

There are patches – rings, bars or pads – to apply to the fingers, often made with soft silicone gel, to relieve pain and avoid friction. 

Footbaths with hot water can also be beneficial, especially those with Epsom salts , which are used to soften the skin and help eliminate any calluses in a more effective and delicate way. Even better if you then follow it all with a nice foot massage .

In pharmacies, parapharmacies and even online there are many varieties of straighteners, finger separators, spacers and braces : the most useful thing is to invest your time and money in effective advice before buying.

Read: “Healthy Feet, Healthy Body”, here is the review of  Carsten Stark’s book.