High Heels and Hammertoe: What’s the Connection?

If you’re bothered by a hammertoe deformity, your footwear choices may make all the difference. This common complaint can cause foot pain and mobility problems that get in the way of your daily life. 

Thankfully, appropriate treatment and lifestyle changes – including shifting away from high heel wear – can help minimize your symptoms and stop hammertoe progression.

At Babak Kosari, DPM, Inc, in Northridge and Santa Clarita, California, board-certified foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Kosari diagnoses and treats hammertoe to ease your symptoms and stave off complications. 

Let’s explore the ins and outs of this common structural deformity, including its connection to high heel wear and ways to find relief.

Hammertoe symptoms

Hammertoe accounts for about 20% of all foot and ankle problems. The condition ranges in severity, from “flexible” hammertoes you can still bend, to “rigid” hammertoes that remain stuck in a frozen position. 

In all cases, hammertoe causes an inverted curved shape — or something like a claw-like bend — in one or more of your toes. Other hammertoe symptoms include:

• Pain at the top of the bent toe or the ball of your foot
• Skin discoloration
• Swelling

In some cases, hammertoe leads to a bunion, callus, or corn as well. And the curve of the affected toe makes it vulnerable to recurrent blisters, too.

Hammertoe and high heels

Anything that puts excessive pressure on the ball of your foot and your toes can lead to hammertoe. You could also be genetically predisposed to hammertoe, due to the shape of your foot. Certain diseases, like diabetes, and certain traumatic foot injuries can also give rise to this structural deformity.

High heels are a major hammertoe risk factor, given that a one-inch heel increases the pressure on the balls of your feet by 22%. Three-inch heels increase that pressure to 76%. High heels can also add strain to your knees and hips, due to misalignment, making way for even more mobility challenges.

And if you have another risk factor for hammertoe, like genetic predisposition, your likelihood of developing the problem climbs even higher if you regularly wear high heels.

How to ease (or prevent) hammertoe

To reduce hammertoe symptoms or guard against worsening flare ups, wear comfortable, supportive flats. Shoes that prevent foot and ankle pain and injuries also have a bit of space around your toes. In other words, avoid footwear that’s narrow and pointy.

If your hammertoe symptoms persist or worsen, Dr. Kosari may recommend:

• Corticosteroid injections
• Custom orthotic inserts
• Insulated padding for your shoes 
• Taping the affected toe(s)

Toe exercises and over-the-counter pain medication may help as well. For severe hammertoe symptoms that no longer respond to conservative measures, corrective surgery may be the best option.

To learn more about the best and worst shoes for a hammertoe deformity, or to get started with personalized care for your condition, call your nearest Babak Kosari, DPM, Inc, office in Northridge or Santa Clarita, California, today, or click online to book an appointment at your convenience.