Hammer toe: relief while the toe is still flexible
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Short answer
A hammer toe is a smaller toe bent at its middle joint, often with a corn on top. While it can still straighten (a flexible hammer toe), roomy shoes, toe stretches and exercises, and over-the-counter straps, crest cushions and corn pads ease the pain. Once it becomes rigid, surgery is often the fix. ACFAS notes hammer toes don't get better without some kind of intervention.
Symptoms
Pain in shoes, swelling, redness, a toe that won't straighten, and corns on top of the joint or at the tip (AAOS).
Causes
A muscle and tendon imbalance. Tight, narrow shoes and high heels are a major contributor, along with heredity and old injuries.
What helps
- Shoes with a roomy toe box about half an inch longer than your longest toe (AAOS) and low heels.
- Exercises: toe stretches, picking up marbles, towel curls.
- Pads and straps: AAOS lists straps, cushions and non-medicated corn pads.
Illustration Crest cushion under the middle toes
ZenToes Triple Loop Hammertoe Crest
A gel cushion (crest pad) that slides under the middle toes on loops. ZenToes says it gently lifts curled toes; it also cushions the tips, where corns form.
- Gel crest under the 3 middle toes
- Latex-free SEBS gel
- Washable
- 4 pack
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Illustration Wrap a single bent toe
ZenToes Hammer Toe Straightener Wraps
A reusable alternative to buddy-taping: wraps a curled toe to the next one for light support. Works only for toes that can still straighten.
- Soft fabric buddy wrap
- Latex-free, cushioned lining
- Small and original sizes
- 4 count
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Illustration Deep, soft shoe (women's)
Orthofeet Coral Women's Sneaker
A deep, soft-sided sneaker built for feet that can't tolerate pressure points. The extra depth leaves room for thicker or prescribed inserts.
- Extra depth
- Removable 1/4" orthotic insole
- Stretch knit upper
- Widths up to 4E (select)
- Seam-free interior
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Illustration Deep, soft shoe (men's)
Orthofeet Edgewater Stretch Men's Sneaker
The men's counterpart: extra depth, removable insoles and spacers to fine-tune volume, and a stretch upper that doesn't press on bunions or hammer toes.
- Extra depth
- Removable insoles + spacers
- Stretch upper
- Widths D to 6E
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- The toe has become rigid and painful.
- You have an open sore or corn that won't heal, especially with diabetes.
- Pain persists despite roomier shoes and padding.