Hammertoes are a foot deformity that tends to occur when there’s an imbalance in the muscles that keep the toe straight. This causes your toe to bend unnaturally and can cause you pain and irritation. There are ways to prevent hammertoes from occurring, so it’s important to understand what could cause this abnormality and how you can avoid those causes. Dr. David Levitsky at Clinton Foot & Ankle Clinic in Jonesville, Clinton, and Saline MI, can explain what causes hammertoes and how it can be prevented.
Common Causes of Hammertoes
Hammertoes are often a result of some sort of trauma, and there are issues that can increase your risk for hammertoes. Some common causes of hammertoes could be certain shoes. Shoes that are high-heeled or tight around the toes can crowd your toes and stop them from laying flat. If you wear shoes like this often enough, it may become permanent, even when barefoot.
Hammertoes can also occur from trauma, such as stubbing or breaking a toe. When it’s not properly set by your podiatrist in Clinton, MI, it can end up resulting in hammertoes and will remain bent. You can also develop hammertoes if your muscles are improperly balanced. This can cause the toes to contract from instability.
There are factors that put you at a higher risk of developing hammertoes. This c=includes:
- Age- Your risk increases with age
- Sex- It’s more common for women to develop hammertoes
- Toe length- When the second toe is longer than your big toe, it increases your risk of hammertoes
- Diseases- Diseases like arthritis and diabetes make you more prone to developing deformities
Contact Your Podiatrist Today
Find out how you can avoid certain causes of hammertoes by making different lifestyle choices. Contact Dr. David Levitsky at Clinton Foot & Ankle Clinic in Jonesville, Clinton, and Saline MI, to learn more about hammertoes and the common causes. Call for more information and to schedule an appointment today at (517) 456-4114.