How to Prevent and Treat Hammertoes

Hammertoes are formed when the toes become bent at the last joint, causing them to stay curled downward. This is often caused by wearing shoes that don't fit correctly or are too tight. While hammertoes are often very painful and uncomfortable, they can be treated and prevented.

Instructions

Prevention

• 1

  Wear shoes that fit. Any shoes that are too short or too tight will cause your toes to curl up. Make sure your toes have plenty of room to move around. It is recommended that you leave one half inch of empty space at the end of your shoe.

• 2

  Watch for warning signs. If your feet hurt, then chances are that your shoes are doing damage to them. Also watch your feet for signs of hammertoes forming, such as a bend in the toes or a thickening of the skin around the toes.

• 3

  Avoid wearing high-heeled shoes. These are often too narrow at the toes, along with being raised at the heel, causing your feet to slide down into the front of the shoe.

Treatment

• 4

  Wear loose shoes. This will allow your feet to stretch and return back to normal, if the damage done isn't too extensive.

• 5

  Stretch your feet. Straighten your toes and massage your entire foot to relax it. This can be combined with a warm bath or some lotion.

• 6

  Use a splint on your toes. If your hammertoes are somewhat severe, you may need a splint to help straighten your toes and keep them in place.

• 7

  Straighten your toes with surgery. If all else fails, you might need to have a surgical procedure done to straighten your toes and relieve the pain that you are experiencing. This surgery involves removing a piece of the bone in your toe.