Open
September 4, 2025
Toe deformities can cause discomfort, affect your balance, and limit your footwear options. Among the most common conditions are clawed toes, hammertoes, and crossover toes. While they may sound similar, each has distinct characteristics, causes, and treatment approaches. Understanding the differences can help you identify symptoms early and seek appropriate care.
What Are Clawed Toes?
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Feet First Clinic (@feetfirstclinic_)
Clawed toes are characterized by an abnormal bending of the toe joints, causing the toe to curl downward like a claw. Typically, the toes bend upward at the joint where they meet the foot (the metatarsophalangeal joint), and then downward at the middle (proximal interphalangeal) and end joints (distal interphalangeal).
Causes of Clawed Toes
Neurological conditions such as diabetes, stroke, or multiple sclerosis that affect muscle control.
Muscle imbalances caused by arthritis or injury.
Wearing poorly fitting shoes that crowd the toes.
Symptoms of Clawed Toes
Toes curl downward permanently.
Pain or discomfort in toes or ball of the foot.
Calluses or corns on the top or tip of the toes due to friction.
Difficulty fitting into shoes comfortably.
What Are Hammertoes?
Hammertoes involve an abnormal bend in the middle joint of the toe, causing it to resemble a hammer. Unlike clawed toes, the bending mainly occurs at the proximal interphalangeal joint.
Causes of Hammertoes
Wearing tight or ill-fitting shoes that force toes into a bent position.
Muscle imbalance or weakness.
Injury or trauma to the toe.
Arthritis or other joint conditions.
Symptoms of Hammertoes
Toe bent downward at the middle joint.
Pain or irritation on the top of the bent toe.
Corns or calluses forming on the affected toe.
Limited toe movement.
What Are Crossover Toes?
Crossover toes occur when the second toe moves sideways, crossing over the big toe. This deformity often causes crowding and pressure between the toes.
Causes of Crossover Toes
Tight or narrow footwear.
Muscle imbalances or ligament laxity.
Structural foot issues like bunions.
Arthritis or prior injuries.
Symptoms of Crossover Toes
Second toe overlapping or crossing the big toe.
Pain between toes or on the side of the foot.
Corns or calluses where toes rub together.
Difficulty wearing certain shoes.
Treatment Options for Toe Deformities
Conservative Treatments
Proper footwear: Shoes with a wide toe box and good support can relieve pressure.
Orthotics: Custom shoe inserts can help correct foot mechanics.
Padding and taping: To protect affected toes from friction.
Physical therapy: Exercises to strengthen foot muscles and improve flexibility.
When Surgery May Be Needed
If conservative treatments don’t relieve symptoms or deformities worsen, surgical options may be considered. Procedures vary depending on the deformity but may include tendon release, joint fusion, or bone realignment.
When to See a Specialist
If you experience persistent toe pain, difficulty walking, or notice changes in toe shape, it’s important to consult a foot specialist. Early intervention can prevent complications and improve your foot health.
September 14, 2019
A hammertoe is a toe that is bent in the middle joint so that it folds or curls over. In some cases, the toes crowd over each other instead of sitting flat and pointing straight ahead. The musculoskeletal condition makes everyday activities like standing and walking uncomfortable or downright painful. And finding a pair of shoes that can accommodate the bent and awkwardly crowded joints can be a challenge.
Find out what you should do if you suspect that you have hammertoes:
Get Diagnosed
You should get checked at our Toronto foot clinic if you are exhibiting any of the above symptoms and suspect you have hammertoes. The specialist will examine your feet and determine the appropriate diagnosis. They will also check for problems that form in tandem with hammertoe like calluses, corns and blisters. Establishing the foot condition is the first step to treating it.
The good news is that flexible hammertoes can be reversed when you practice toe strengthening exercises and use specialized accessories. Hammertoes are a progressive foot condition — the longer you ignore them, the worse they’re going to get. However, the earlier that you notice the symptoms and commit to a personalized treatment plan, the faster you can rectify the problem.
Hammertoe Exercises
Hammertoe happens when the muscles in your feet tighten and the tendons contract, pulling the toes into a curled and clustered position. Eventually, your muscles can’t force the toes to lie flat. A non-invasive way to counteract the painful toe position is to strengthen the muscles in the toes and feet, so they can eventually lie in their natural position without discomfort.
A toe crunch is one of the best hammertoe strengthening exercises that you can try out at home. To do the exercise, sit down in a chair with your shoes and socks off. Put a towel on the ground right under your feet. Root your heels into the floor and then try to scrunch up the towel, drawing it closer to you using only your toes. Do multiple reps every day. You will notice a difference in how your toes feel and how they lie over time.
Hammertoe Accessories
Until the strengthening exercises take effect, you should consider hammertoe straighteners and separators to prevent your toes from curling or crossing over each other. These corrective accessories make it more comfortable to stand and walk.
When you’re doing a more intensive form of exercise, you may want to tape your hammertoes to keep them separate and straight underneath your sneakers. A gel straightener will be uncomfortable and will likely move during a jog or fitness class. Use sports tape or first-aid tape to do the job.
Modified Footwear
You need to stop wearing shoes that can make hammertoes worse. Otherwise, your strengthening exercises and accessories won’t offer any long-term results. You need to avoid wearing high heels and shoes with tight or pointed toe boxes so that your toes can stay properly aligned.
You can visit Feet First Clinic to find some comfortable orthopaedic shoes for sport, work wear and nights out. Specialists at the clinic can also help you get custom orthotic insoles to accommodate the curled toes and ease any discomfort while you move around. You can have them made for whatever kind of footwear you want, including skates, cleats and ski boots.
Certain medical conditions like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis will make it more difficult to alleviate the symptoms of hammertoes. If you are aware that you have these conditions, please notify the chiropodist during your visits. They offer other specialized services and products that can help you manage these ailments.
