Claw Toe
This condition causes your last two joints of the toe to bend like a claw. It renders them very inflexible.
Causes of Claw Toe:
✔️Genetic component or having a history of this condition in the family
✔️Poorly fitted shoes
✔️Muscle imbalance in the feet
✔️Neurological disease or nerve damage due to Diabetes
✔️Nerve damage due to alcoholism
✔️A stroke (the side the stroke occurred may develop Claw Toe)
✔️Polio or Cerebral Palsy
✔️Trauma to the foot
✔️Tumors found in the Spine
✔️Charcot Disease
There are two stages of Claw Toe. If you are starting to experience the first stage, you can still move your toes although they might start to feel stiff. As the disease progresses, your toes will become ridged and you will not be able to move them.
Claw toe may be mistaken for Mallet Toe. However, Mallet toe only affects the last joint of the toe, whereas if you have claw toe, you will have a bend in the two main joint of your toes.
Causes of Claw Toe:
✔️Genetic component or having a history of this condition in the family
✔️Poorly fitted shoes
✔️Muscle imbalance in the feet
✔️Neurological disease or nerve damage due to Diabetes
✔️Nerve damage due to alcoholism
✔️A stroke (the side the stroke occurred may develop Claw Toe)
✔️Polio or Cerebral Palsy
✔️Trauma to the foot
✔️Tumors found in the Spine
✔️Charcot Disease
There are two stages of Claw Toe. If you are starting to experience the first stage, you can still move your toes although they might start to feel stiff. As the disease progresses, your toes will become ridged and you will not be able to move them.
Claw toe may be mistaken for Mallet Toe. However, Mallet toe only affects the last joint of the toe, whereas if you have claw toe, you will have a bend in the two main joint of your toes.
So you have Claw Toes? What symptoms can I expect?
You may also experience the following if you have been diagnosed with Claw Toes:
How to treat Claw Toe
There are some surgical options to treat this condition, which your doctor will discuss with you. However, there are some great ways to manage Claw Toe at home.
If you have an advanced/ fixed Claw Toe, there maybe surgical options for treatment. Joint resection can be achieved by making an incision over the top of the toe. Work to the ligaments and tendons, involving surgical changes (cutting) can also be done to treat this condition.
- Bent toes
- Corns and/ or Calluses
- Blisters
- Pain around the toe
- Inflammation and Swelling.
- Ulcers
How to treat Claw Toe
There are some surgical options to treat this condition, which your doctor will discuss with you. However, there are some great ways to manage Claw Toe at home.
- Use footwear with toe boxes, low heels and good arch support. S
- Wear shoes with a sizable width and depth, with soft soles and minimal seams in the toe box.
- Wearing soft supports, cushioning pads and arch supports to support the toe.
- Start an exercise routine that strengths and stretches the toe and foot
- A splint or even tape can help keep the toes in the correct alignment
If you have an advanced/ fixed Claw Toe, there maybe surgical options for treatment. Joint resection can be achieved by making an incision over the top of the toe. Work to the ligaments and tendons, involving surgical changes (cutting) can also be done to treat this condition.
