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Hammertoe is a foot condition where one or more toes bend abnormally at the middle joint. It can cause pain and stiffness. But, the good news is that you can treat hammertoe without surgery if you find it early. Here, we are to tell you all you need to know about non-surgical treatments for hammertoe. So, if you have hammertoe and want to know how to treat it without surgery, this article is for you.
Non-Surgical Treatments for Hammertoe
If you want to treat hammertoe without surgery, there are plenty of options for you. Let’s see what treatment options you have for non-surgical hammertoe treatment in Gilbert:
Padding and Taping
Shoes that rub against a hammertoe can cause pain, blisters, and calluses, and make your condition even worse. Padding and taping help hammertoe treatment Chandler by:
- Preventing direct friction from shoes.
- Keeping the toe in a more natural position.
- Distributing weight evenly.
- Preventing the toe from becoming more rigid over time.
- Making walking and wearing shoes less painful.
Lifestyle Changes
Certain habits put extra strain on your toes and can lead to hammertoe. Making small changes and adopting proper habits can help you treat hammertoe without surgery. The following lifestyle changes can help you with hammertoe treatment phoenix:
- Avoid high heels to prevent unnecessary pressure and unnatural toe positioning.
- Walk barefoot on soft surfaces to strengthen foot muscles and improve flexibility.
- Massage your feet daily to boost circulation and reduce stiffness.
- Try to have a healthy weight to prevent further strain.
- Choose supportive footwear with a wide toe box.
- Use cushioned insoles to reduce pressure.
- Strengthen your foot muscles with regular exercises.
- Avoid tight socks and stockings that squeeze your toes.
- Don’t forget to elevate your feet to reduce swelling and discomfort.
HammerToe Exercises
Regular toe exercise is another way to treat hammertoe without surgery. It strengthens foot muscles, improves flexibility, and helps realign a hammertoe in its early stages. The best exercises for hammertoe treatment Scottsdale include:
| Toe Stretches | Gently pull your affected toe straight with your hand and hold for 10–15 seconds. Repeat 10 times per foot to improve flexibility. |
| Towel Scrunches | Put a towel on the floor and try to scrunch it toward you with your toes. Do this for 2–3 minutes to strengthen toe muscles. |
| Marble Pickup | Scatter marbles on the floor and pick them up with your toes. Repeat until you’ve moved 10–15 marbles to boost control and dexterity. |
| Toe Taps | Keep your heels on the ground and lift your toes. Tap just the bent toe up and down for 30 seconds to activate and strengthen foot muscles. |
| Toe Splays | Spread your toes apart as far as possible and hold for 5 seconds before relaxing. Repeat 10 times to increase flexibility and control. |
Proper Footwear
Wearing the right shoes can help to treat hammertoe without surgery. The wrong footwear squeezes your toes, increases pressure, and worsens pain, so try to make the best choice when buying shoes. Choose shoes with:
- Wide toe box to have enough space to move freely.
- Soft and flexible materials to reduce pressure on your toes.
- Low heels to prevent excess strain on the toes.
- Arch support to maintain proper foot alignment.
- Adjustable straps or laces to have a customized fit without squeezing your toes.
- Non-slip soles to reduce the risk of falls or misalignment.
Medications and Injections
When pain becomes unbearable, medication can help. You can use pain relievers to reduce swelling and corticosteroid injections to target severe inflammation. These treatments don’t fix the problem and only help to relieve pain for a while. If you need injections regularly, your hammertoe may be too advanced and the doctor may use surgery for hammertoe treatment Mesa.
Hammertoes Treatment Without Surgery Near Me in Gilbert, Scottsdale, Chandler, Mesa, or Phoenix, AZ
If you can’t treat hammertoe without surgery, our podiatrists can help you. Our expert podiatrists provide personalized care to keep your feet healthy and pain-free. All you need to do is visit us in Gilbert, Scottsdale, Chandler, Mesa, or Phoenix, AZ, or make an online appointment for a free consultation.
Non-Surgical Treatment for Hammertoe: Let’s Recap
Taking everything into account, those who catch hammertoe early can treat hammertoe without surgery. According to what we mentioned above, treatments like padding, taping, exercises, better footwear, and lifestyle changes can help you in a great way. Don’t forget that the sooner you take action, the better your results.
FAQs
You can straighten a hammertoe naturally with toe exercises, taping, orthotics, and better footwear.
New treatments include custom orthotics, splints, and advanced physical therapy techniques that gradually improve alignment.
Toe straighteners like splints and separators help mild hammertoes.
Yes! Wear roomy, supportive shoes, do toe exercises, and avoid high heels. Keeping foot muscles strong reduces the risk of hammertoes.
Fixing hammertoes at home involves daily stretches, padding, proper footwear, and lifestyle changes.
