You notice that one or more of the small toes on one of your feet always look a little bent at the knuckle so that the toes have a shape a little bit like that of the head of a hammer. Those toes may become more prone to calluses or blisters or seem not to fit comfortably in your shoes anymore, no matter what you do.
If this is happening to you, you could be dealing with hammertoes. Hammertoes are a common type of foot deformity affecting your front and toes. At The Foot Care Group, expert podiatrist Dr. Steve Sharlin understands why hammertoes occur and what you can do to restore the strength and alignment of your feet.
Dr. Sharlin sees new and existing patients with hammertoes at his offices in Hinsdale, Libertyville, and the Streeterville area of Chicago, Illinois. If you’re concerned about developing hammertoes, get in touch with Dr. Sharlin to learn more about why this deformity could be affecting you and what you need to do to correct the issue.
Hammertoes happen when too much of the wrong kind of pressure causes an underlying weakness in the structure of your front foot. Often, your footwear contributes to the development of hammertoes. If you wear narrow-toed shoes or high heels that pinch your toes too often, hammertoes may result.
You need your feet to be strong, healthy, and well-aligned. When bones, tendons, or ligaments in your feet lose correct alignment, every additional step you take can often make the problem worse. And, issues with your feet may damage your gait and overall biomechanics.
That’s why, when you start to notice early warning signs of hammertoes, you should contact a podiatrist like Dr. Sharlin immediately. If you can catch the problem early, you’re more likely to be able to address it with conservative, minimally invasive approaches effectively.
You can often correct hammertoes non-surgically, using techniques like custom orthotics and physical therapy exercises and stretches. If your condition has progressed and becomes more severe, you may require surgery to realign your toes and front foot.
Dr. Sharlin provides custom orthotics that work to strengthen and realign hammertoes. Your orthotic inserts can be worn with various shoe styles, although it’s necessary to give your toes plenty of room while correcting hammertoes.
Because your orthotics from The Foot Care Group are custom-created based on your unique foot shape, they’re comfortable to use. Custom orthotics work more effectively to correct podiatry issues like hammertoes than generic inserts purchased at the drug store or online.
Dr. Sharlin discusses your treatment plan for correcting your hammertoes with you, ensuring you understand what to expect. You may need to use orthotics for several months or combine orthotic use with physical therapy exercises to improve alignment in the front of your feet.
To learn more about how custom orthotics can effectively address hammertoes and your other treatment options for restoring the shape and strength of your affected foot, contact Dr. Sharlin at The Foot Care Group. Schedule your initial consultation appointment online, or call now to book your session.
