What are Claw Toes and Mallet Toes and How can they be Treated?

Have you been told that you or a loved one has mallet or claw toes? Mallet and claw toes form over time and are not uncommon in adults.

Mallet and claw toes are common toe problems. If you suspect you have mallet or claw toes, you should consult a podiatrist right away. Left untreated, the problem may escalate and lead to the need for surgery. But first it is important to know what these conditions are and how they can be treated.

Mallet and Claw Toes

Both Mallet and Claw toes involve toes that are bent into an abnormal position. These toes may be painful or look odd, or both. Both these toe deformities usually occur in the small toes and not your big toes.

In Claw toes, the toes bend at the joint where the foot and toes meet, causing the toes to curl backward. This condition often affects the four small toes at the same time.

On the other hand, Mallet toes often affect the second toes, but it may happen to the other toes too. Mallet toes bend down at the joint nearest to the tip of the toes.

What causes Mallet and Claw Toes?

Tight footwear with narrow or pointed toe boxes is the most common cause of mallet and claw toes. Excessively tight footwear can cause the muscles of the toes to become imbalanced. In some cases, these toe issues are associated with other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, stroke, or an ankle or foot injury. Women are usually affected more than men because they wear heels and are more likely to wear narrow shoes.

Diagnosis

A skilled podiatrist will take a detailed medical history and ask about your lifestyle, daily activities and the footwear you prefer. Next, s/he will perform a physical examination to assess the level of deformity and scope of pain. The diagnosis of claw and mallet toes is based on the findings. To further confirm the diagnosis, your podiatrist may order X-rays or other imaging tests in order to evaluate the joints and bones of your feet.

Treatments for Mallet and Claw Toes

The most common treatment options for mallet and claw toes include –

• Buying shoes with wider toe boxes or more room in the toes
• Having calluses and corns filed at the podiatrist’s
• Padding the toes to relieve the pain
• If you are experiencing pain, your foot doctor may put a splint or pad on the toe
• Custom orthotics can help to control the muscle/tendon imbalance and relieve your pain
• Steroid injections can be recommended to ease pain and inflammation.
• If none of these treatments work, you may need to undergo surgery to straighten the toes.

If you are looking for the best foot and ankle specialist in Phoenix, Arizona, call Oasis Foot and Ankle Clinic at 602-993-2700 Now. Oasis Foot and Ankle Centers offer cutting edge surgical and nonsurgical treatments for foot and ankle conditions and injuries.

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oasisfootankle Joined: June 25th, 2018