|
Nov 16, 2007 - Claw ToeBack
CLAW TOE
Definition:
A claw toe (Mallet Toe) is a toe that is flexed and contracted at both its joints (middle and end joints in the toe). It may lead to pressure and pain. Ligaments and tendons that have tightened cause the toe's joints to curl downwards and maintain the deformed position.
Claw toes may occur in any toe, except the big toe. There is often discomfort at the top part of the toe that is rubbing against the shoe and at the end of the toe that is pressed against the bottom of the shoe.
Claw toes are classified based on the mobility of the toe joints. There are three types – flexible, semi flexible and rigid.
In a flexible claw toe, the joints have the ability to move. This type of claw toe can be straightened manually.
A semi flexible or rigid claw toe does not have that same ability to move. Movement is very limited or not present and can be painful. This sometimes causes foot movement to become restricted leading to extra stress at the ball-of-the-foot. This may lead to pain and the development of corns, calluses and metatarsalgia.
Cause:
Claw toes result from a muscle imbalance, which causes the ligaments and tendons to become unnaturally tight. This results in the joints curling downwards. Arthritis can also lead to many different forefoot deformities, including claw toes.
It is also seen in people with excessively high arches, those who over supinate and is associated with foot types with dropped metatarsal arches.
Treatment & Prevention:
This condition can be managed in a number of ways ranging from self-care, conservative treatments to surgery.
Self-care can take the form of improving footwear styles which accommodate the deformity and reduce pressure on prominent joints. There is an array of over the counter pads and dressing that may provide temporary relief from symptoms. Soaking the feet in warm water and gently massaging the forefoot may provide temporary relief.
Prescription orthoses are by far the most effective way of dealing with certain types of claw toes. Once the biomechanical factors have been identified the orthoses may be designed to provide motion control and can have a metatarsal pad to help support the metatarsal arch and straighten the toes and improve toe function.
A tailored exercise program to mobilize and improve the function of the intrinsic foot muscles (small muscles in the foot which control the toe movements) can prove very effective. Making made to measure props and splints made from a special silicone material may also treat claw toe.
When worn regularly and in some circumstances as night splints, the use of these prescription props and splints can lead to progressive straightening of the toes. This technique is know as Silicone Orthodigita and is utilized very effectively in children, when correction is much easier that with adults. Surgery – some cases may benefit from surgery, but the vast majority of people can be helped by conservative (non surgical) treatments.
|
|
|
 |
|
