Hammertoe Toronto

Conservative and Surgical Toe Correction

Curled or painful toe? We treat hammertoes with orthotics, offloading, and in-clinic tendon release when needed.

Don’t Ignore That Curled or Bent Toe

Hammertoes are more than just a cosmetic concern. Whether flexible or stiff, they can cause ongoing pain, corns, calluses, and difficulty wearing shoes. Left untreated, they often worsen, becoming more rigid and harder to correct.

At Step Right Foot Clinic, our chiropodists in Toronto treat hammertoes with a range of conservative and minor surgical options, including custom orthotics, shoe modifications, padding, and when needed, a flexor tenotomy (an in-office procedure to release the tendon and straighten the toe).

If your toe is curling, rubbing, or stiffening, let us help you walk comfortably again with or without surgery.

What is a Hammertoe?

A hammertoe is a foot deformity where the toe bends downward at the last joint, creating a clawed or curled appearance. It most often affects the second, third, or fourth toes and is classified as:

• Flexible hammertoe – still movable at the joint
• Rigid hammertoe – stiff and fixed in a bent position

Common causes include:

• Muscle or tendon imbalance
• Footwear that’s too tight or short in the toe box
• Genetics or structural foot issues (like bunions or flat feet)
• Arthritis, trauma, or age-related joint changes

Treating hammertoes early, while the joint is still flexible, leads to better long-term outcomes.

Hammertoe Symptoms

You may be dealing with a hammertoe if you notice:

• A visibly bent or curled toe
• Pain at the toe joint when walking or wearing shoes
• Corns or calluses on the top or tip of the toe
• Stiffness or reduced flexibility in the toe
• Rubbing, redness, or pressure points from footwear

Hammertoes can interfere with your balance, stride, and footwear. They can definitely worsen if not treated proactively.

How We Treat Hammertoes

At Step Right Foot Clinic, we offer customized hammertoe care using conservative methods when possible and surgical correction where necessary.

• Custom Orthotics: Designed to address abnormal foot mechanics and offload pressure from the affected toes.
• Padding, Splints & Spacers: Used to relieve friction, support alignment, and protect skin from pressure or rubbing.
• Footwear Guidance: We recommend toe-friendly shoes with wide, deep toe boxes to reduce irritation and slow deformity progression.
• Medical Skin Care: We safely debride painful corns or calluses caused by pressure points on the curled toe.
• Stretching & Strengthening: We provide simple exercises to improve flexibility and reduce muscle imbalance in early stages.
• Flexor Tenotomy (In-Clinic Procedure): For select cases with flexible or semi-rigid hammertoes, we perform a percutaneous flexor tenotomy — a minimally invasive procedure done under local anesthetic to release the tight tendon and allow the toe to straighten. This procedure is performed right in our clinic and has a short recovery time, often with immediate improvement.
• Surgical Referral (Severe Rigid Cases): For fixed, painful deformities unresponsive to conservative care, we’ll refer you to trusted surgical partners for definitive correction.

Non-Surgical Options + In-Clinic Correction

We offer you multiple paths to relief based on your condition and comfort level.

Registered Chiropodists and Podiatrist

We understand the mechanics behind toe deformities and treat the whole foot, not just the symptoms.

No Referral Needed. Same-Week Appointments

Book directly with our experienced foot care team and get on the path to straightened toes and pain-free steps.

Walk Without Pain. Live Without Pressure.

Don’t wait until a hammertoe becomes stiff and painful. Whether you need offloading, orthotics, or an in-clinic procedure, we’ll guide you through the best treatment for your feet.