Most athletes and physically active people are at risk of hammertoes. This happens because they put continuous stress on their toes, which can lead to deformity. But is there a way to prevent it? Yes, some strategies can help prevent hammertoes. Learn what increases the risk of hammertoes in athletes and ways to prevent and/or treat hammertoes in this article. Get a consultation with the best Podiatrists in Brooklyn.
Why are athletes at risk of hammertoes?
The risk of hammertoes is higher if you participate in physical activity that involves repeated actions like jumping or running, which puts excessive pressure on your feet and toes, leading to a toe deformity, which is common in athletes. Besides, the stress placed on the muscles and joints during play can be aggravated if you’re not wearing properly fitting, supportive shoes while you’re active.
Non-supportive shoes don’t offer adequate support, which can cause various problems and even have a domino effect, impacting multiple areas of the foot. If your shoes are too tight in the toe box, you may develop a toe deformity, which leads to muscle imbalance within the toes.
Preventing and treating hammertoes
Several steps can help you prevent hammertoes, but it is not possible in all cases, such as when you have a high arch, flat feet, or long toes, or are living with certain health conditions like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Besides these health issues, there are steps that you can take to prevent hammertoes or reduce pain.
- Check your feet regularly for issues such as bruises or cuts, especially when you have diabetes or any other medical condition that impacts your peripheral nerves and sensations or causes poor circulation in your toes. Checking your feet daily allows you to catch the problem early on to get it treated.
- Maintaining good circulation is important to keep your feet healthy. So, if you’re sitting down for a long time, make sure you stretch your legs and feet from time to time. Give yourself a foot massage at home or get foot massages from professionals. A warm foot bath is also a good idea.
- Wearing the right comfortable shoes with proper arch support is very important. This provides the right level of comfort and support for your feet while walking or jumping. Make sure your shoe has enough toe space to make your toes comfortable even with socks. Avoid pointy shoes or high heels, which tighten your toes and put pressure on them, making them uncomfortable to wear and increasing the risk of hammertoes. Avoiding pointy shoes or high heels is also helpful to manage the pain and discomfort of hammertoes.
In case you develop hammertoes, there are many treatment options to treat hammertoes, including:
- Take over-the-counter medications:
Many people with hammertoes experience pain, swelling, and stiffness. This makes it difficult to stand or walk for longer periods of time. Taking OTC medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen not only lowers swelling and eases discomfort, but also helps you manage the pain as you walk.
- Toe exercises:
To deal with stiffness in your foot due to hammertoe, you can use some specific exercises to loosen them up and prevent your affected joints from locking. One of the best exercises for hammertoes is “towel scrunch.” In this exercise, you need to place a towel under your feet on the floor. Then scrunch or pull your towel up with your toes. Then let go of the towel back to its original position. Repeat this exercise 8 to 12 times with each foot twice a day.
- Custom Orthotics:
If your pain continues or worsens after changing your shoes, you can benefit from using custom orthotics. These can be used to reduce pressure and support your feet when you wear your shoes. A doctor can prescribe shoe inserts to redistribute weight and relieve pressure on the feet or toe pads to cushion the region around the toes. It also gives extra padding to affected toes or keeps your toes in the proper position to prevent them from rubbing against the inner side of the shoes.
- Surgery:
Hammertoes often improve with nonsurgical treatments like targeted exercises or wearing more comfortable shoes. However, if your toe becomes rigid in a bent position, then the only way to restore its range of motion is through surgery, as it also makes walking extremely painful. During surgery, the doctor may make small incisions to remove the deformed part, to lower the risk of complications, and for faster recovery.
Hammertoe in athletes and active individuals is quite common due to the repeated motion of the feet that puts stress on the toes. However, with the above-mentioned tips, you can prevent and treat hammertoes and improve your foot health.
Need help with hammertoes? Visit our podiatry clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now! At Doral Health & Wellness, we have Podiatrists with extensive education and expertise. Trauma to the tendons, muscles, and bones of the foot is quite common. It’s not a good idea to put off seeing Foot Doctor Brooklyn until you are in a lot of pain. Our address is 1797 Pitkin Avenue, New York, NY 11212. To make an appointment, please call + 1 718 367 2555 or send an email toinfo@doralhw.org.
