Shoes for Hammer Toes

A hammer toe is contracted at the PIP joint (middle joint in the toe), potentially leading to severe pressure and pain. Tightened ligaments and tendons cause the toe’s joints to curl downwards. Hammer toes may occur in any toe except the big toe. There is often discomfort at the top part of the toe due to rubbing against the shoe.

Hammer toes are classified as flexible or rigid, based on the mobility of the toe joints. In a flexible hammer toe, the joint has the ability to move and can be straightened manually. In a rigid hammer toe, movement is very limited and can be extremely painful. This restricted movement can lead to extra stress at the ball of the foot, possibly causing pain and the development of corns and calluses.

Hammer toes result from a muscle imbalance, which causes the ligaments and tendons to become unnaturally tight. This results in the joints curling downwards. Arthritis can also lead to many different forefoot deformities, including hammer toes.

Changing the type of footwear worn is a very important step in the treatment of hammer toes. When choosing a shoe, make sure the toe box is high and broad and the uppers are made of soft leather or flexible materials to accommodate the hammer toes. A shoe with a high, broad toe box will provide enough room in the forefoot area so there is less friction against the toes.

Other conservative treatments include using forefoot products to relieve hammer toes, such as hammer toe crests and hammer toe splints. These devices will help hold down the hammer toe and provide relief to the forefoot. Gel toe shields and gel toe caps are also recommended to eliminate friction between the shoe and the toe, while providing comfort and lubrication.