The Best Ways to Prevent Hammertoe

Hammertoe can be much more than a nuisance. It can often be an extremely painful condition. Some of the best ways to prevent hammertoe involve common sense measures that are very simple to do. Here are just a few of them.

Check Your Feet Often

One of the best ways to prevent hammertoe is to be vigilant about your feet. Check them often so that you can spot any potential problems early. This will be particularly important if you have any type of medical problem such as diabetes that results in numbness or a lack of proper circulation. If this is the case, then you will need to check your feet every day.

Circulation issues can cause big problems with your feet, of course, but there are things you can do to improve it. For example, always put your feet up when you sit down. If you have been sitting for a long time, get up for a few minutes and stretch your feet and legs. Take warm foot baths regularly as well.

Be Sensible About Your Shoes

The proper footwear can go a long way toward helping you prevent hammertoe. When shopping, make sure you buy shoes that fit your bigger foot – yes, just about everyone has one foot that is slightly larger than the other. Also, since your feet tend to swell during the day, try to buy shoes at the end of the day so you get the best sense of how they will fit.

Shoe sizes can vary, so do not let that be your only reference point when shopping. Different manufacturers have different sizes, so concentrate on comfort rather than a number. Make sure that the ball of your foot fits into the widest portion of the shoe.

If you would like to learn more about the best ways to prevent hammertoe, get in touch with the experts at Southwest Foot & Ankle. Give us a call at 972-318-2738 (Lewisville), 972-805-9985 (Plano) or 972-318-2655 (Irving) or contact us online.