How are claw toes treated?

How are claw toes treated?

There are both non-surgical and surgical treatments for claw toes. Most of them you can do at home. Non-surgical treatments for claw toes include:

• Wearing shoes that have roomy toe boxes, low heels and good arch support.
• Wearing shoes with an increased width and depth, with soft soles and minimal seams in the toebox.
• Wearing pads, arch supports or other shoe inserts to cushion the toe.
• Strengthening and stretching toe muscles through exercises.
• A splint or tape to hold your toes where they’re supposed to be.
• Avoid high heels.
• Avoid tight shoes.

The severity of your claw toes determines what type of surgery you’ll have. Your healthcare provider will categorize your claw toe as early or late stage, either flexible or rigid. Surgical treatments for claw toes include:

• Tendon lengthening and rerouting.
• Shortening the bones of the phalanx.
• Temporarily inserting a steel pin to hold the toe in the correct position until healing occurs.
• Toe fusion.