What Is the Main Cause of Hammer Toes?

When you’re dealing with hammertoes, you might experience pain and irritation. Hammertoe occurs when one of your toes, often the second, third, or fourth toe, is bent at the joint and looks similar to a hammer. Hammertoe can occur at birth and happen over time, but there are causes that you should avoid to prevent this issue from developing. Dr. David Biesinger at Centennial Foot & Ankle in North Las Vegas, NV, can explain the common causes of hammertoes and what you can do to prevent hammertoes. 

What Causes Hammertoes? 

Hammertoes are often caused when there is not enough space for your toes in shoes or when trauma occurs to the foot. Often, women develop hammertoes when they wear ill-fitted shoes. This causes the toes to cramp up and eventually deform into a hammertoe. It’s important that you wear shoes with ample space in the toes to prevent this condition and prevent pain and irritation. 

Trauma to the foot can also cause hammertoes. If you have a serious injury that affects your toe and it doesn’t heal correctly, it can cause the toe to move into the hammer position that is affiliated with hammertoes. Hammertoes can also be caused by arthritis and can be genetic as well. 

It’s important that you discuss these issues with our podiatrist in North Las Vegas, NV, to see if you can prevent hammertoes from happening to you. You should be wearing properly fitted footwear with room in the toes and avoid wearing high heels. If you are dealing with hammertoes, you can ice the foot and use pain-relievers to lessen pain and swelling that might occur. 

Contact Our Podiatrist Today 

Find out what could potentially cause your hammertoes. Contact Dr. Biesinger at Centennial Foot & Ankle in North Las Vegas, NV, to learn more about hammertoes and what causes them. Call for more information and to schedule an appointment today at (702) 852-2402.