Foot pathology

1. FOOT PATHOLOGY (HAMMER TOES)
 Hammer Toes
 Hammer toes is a condition wherein there is
contracture of the proximal interphalangeal joint
(usually in the second toe, but sometimes the third
toe). It is extended at the metatarsophalangeal (MTP)
 joint, flexed at the proximal interphalangeal joint, and
extended at the distal interphalangeal joint.

2. FOOT PATHOLOGY (HAMMER TOES)
 There are two types of hammertoes:
 Flexible hammertoes.
 If the toe still can be moved at the joint, it's a flexible
hammertoe. That's good, because this is an earlier,
milder form of the problem. There may be several
treatment options.
 Rigid hammertoes.
 If the tendons in the toe become rigid, they press the
joint out of alignment. At this stage, the toe can't be
moved. It usually means that surgery is needed.

3. FOOT PATHOLOGY (HAMMER TOES)
 Risk Factors for a Hammer Toe
 Certain risk factors increase your likelihood of
developing a hammer toe. These include:
 a family history of hammer toe
 chronically wearing tight or pointy-toed shoes
 having calluses, bunions, or corns, which are
thickened layers of skin caused by prolonged and
repeated friction

4. FOOT PATHOLOGY (HAMMER TOES)
 Hammer toe

5. Risk Factors
 Wearing shoes that are too small can force the joint of
your toes into a dislocated position. This makes it
impossible for your muscles to stretch out. Over time,
the practice of wearing improperly fitting shoes
increases your risk of developing:
 hammer toes
 blisters
 bunions
 corns

6. FOOT PATHOLOGY (HAMMER TOES)
 symptoms/complaints:
 Patients may feel pressure against the shoe and under
the metatarsal head, particularly the second toe,
which is often caused by the retrograde pressure on
the big toe. Patients complain of pain felt
 on the dorsal aspect at the PIP joint of the hammer toe
itself usually due to a corn/callus that has
 developed. Once this happens, it is painful to wear
regular shoes.

7. FOOT PATHOLOGY (HAMMER TOES)
 Causes:
 A Hammer Toe may be caused by improperly fitted
shoes or a dropped metatarsal head.
 presses on the flexor tendon (flexor complex - the
group of muscles running on the plantar surface of the
toes.
 This pressure causes the proximal phalanx to remain
dorsiflexed, and the toe becomes
 “hammered.” Some other causes are diabetes, arthritis,
neuromuscular disease, polio or trauma.

8. FOOT PATHOLOGY (HAMMER TOES)
 Treatment:
 First push up on the plantar surface of the metatarsal
head and see if the toe straightens out. If it does, then
an orthotic could correct the problem, usually with a
metatarsal pad. If the toe does not
 straighten out when the metatarsal head is pushed up,
then that indicates that contracture in the
 capsule and ligaments (capsule contracts because the
joint was in the wrong position for too long) of
 the MTP joint has set in and surgery is required.
Orthotics are required post-surgically.

9. FOOT PATHOLOGY (HAMMER TOES)
 References:
 www.google.com
 https://www.google.com.bd/?gws_rd=cr,ssl&ei=kLLm
V_fTOYruvgTPoLOQDw#q=common+foot+pathologi
es
 BHPI Library
 Essential Orthopaedic and Apply Physiotherapy Book