How to Fix Hammer Toes with Tape?

Living with hammer toes can feel like walking with your toes stuck in the wrong direction. Shoes rub, steps hurt, and the toe just won’t flatten out no matter how hard you try. The joint bends in a strange way and stays that way. But sometimes, all it takes is a little tape to get some relief. Yes, you can fix hammer toes with tape.

Taping doesn’t magically straighten a toe overnight. But it can help. Especially if your hammer toe is still soft and flexible, let’s tell you how to do it safely.

How Does Taping Help Hammer Toes?

If your toe bends in the middle and won’t lie flat, you have a hammer toe. When you fix hammer toes with tape, you’re helping the foot return to its natural position. That gives the tendons a chance to stretch. It also stops the toe from rubbing on shoes, which often causes blisters, corns, or even open wounds.

Here’s what happens when taping is done right:

• The toe bends less
• The pain goes down
• The skin stops rubbing inside the shoes
• The muscles get a break from being pulled
• Walking feels more normal again

If the hammer toe is too stiff, taping might not move it much. But it can slow it down, and sometimes even undo some of the tightness if done early enough. If not treated, you can always see a podiatrist in Chandler for help.

How Do You Fix Hammer Toes with Tape?

It’s now hard to fix hammer toes with tape. But you have to do it the right way so it works and doesn’t hurt your skin. Here’s how to wrap a hammer toe:

1. Wash and dry your foot. Clean feet help the tape stick and keep your skin healthy. Wet skin and tape don’t go well together.
2. Choose a tape that sticks well but won’t tear your skin. Medical paper tape is soft. Kinesiology tape stretches and moves with you. Some people like athletic tape if they need a stronger hold.
3. Gently straighten your toe. Don’t yank or force it. Just use your fingers to guide it into a flatter position. If it’s stiff, go slow.
4. Start wrapping a short piece of tape around the base of your hammer toe. This gives you something to anchor the rest of the tape to.
5. Bring the tape under the ball of your foot. This should gently pull the toe into a straighter spot. Press the tape down on the sole of your foot and smooth it out.
6. If needed, you can add another strip from the top of the toe to under the foot if the toe keeps bending. Don’t wrap the toe too tight. You want support, not loss of circulation.
7. Walk around and test it. The toe should feel more supported, not pinched. If it feels weird or hurts, re-tape it.
8. Take off the tape each night and give your skin a break. Replace with fresh tape in the morning. If you do this daily, you may start to notice less pain when walking, better toe position, and fewer corns or blisters.

Best Tape for Hammer Toe

Here are some common types of tape people use to fix hammer toes with tape. Each one has its own benefit.

Pick one that feels good on your skin. Some people have sensitive skin, so test a small piece first to be safe.

What if the Trick Doesn’t Work?

If you fail to fix hammer toes with tape, don’t give up. Sometimes the toe is just too far gone for tape alone to help. That’s not your fault. Here’s what you can try next:

• Switch to toe splints or gel caps. These hold the toe straighter with more support.
• Use shoe inserts or custom orthotics to lift the arch and relieve pressure.
• Try gentle toe stretches to keep the joint loose.
• Choose shoes with extra toe room so the toe isn’t squished.
• See a podiatrist if the toe is stiff, painful, or swollen all the time.

When the toe stays bent even when you’re sitting or lying down, tape may not be enough. That’s when foot doctors Scottsdale come in. In some cases, you cannot fix hammer toes without surgery, but many people don’t need it if they act early.

Expert Hammer Toe Treatments in Phoenix

If you cannot fix hammer toes with tape, it’s time to see a specialist. At Foot and Ankle Specialty Centers, we treat hammer toes every day with custom splints, in-office treatments, orthotics, imaging, and minimally invasive surgery when needed.

We serve Phoenix, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Scottsdale, and tailor every treatment to your foot and lifestyle. Book an appointment online today and fix your hammer toes.

Let’s Recap

You actually can fix hammer toes with tape. It’s simple, cheap, and doesn’t take much time. For early hammer toes that still move a little, taping can bring real relief. Just take your time, use the right tape, and do it gently. And don’t forget to take care of your shoes too, tight shoes can ruin all your hard work.

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