Claw toes and hammer toes
Bent toes that rub against footwear and take weight on their tips.
Physiotherapy · Torremolinos
Claw toes and overlapping toes in Torremolinos
Toes that bend, lift up or ride over their neighbour and rub against your shoe. We assess whether the deformity is flexible or rigid and help you reduce pain and look after how your foot works.
- Free consultation
- Specialist physiotherapists
- Musculoskeletal ultrasound
- Therapeutic exercise
Toes
Why toes become deformed
Claw toes and hammer toes are deformities in which the toe bends at one or more joints and takes on a hooked shape. In a claw toe, the base of the toe extends upwards and the next joints bend; in a hammer toe, the main bend is at the middle joint. Overlapping toes (supraductus) sit on top of the neighbouring toe, and underlapping toes (infraductus) tuck underneath it.
They usually develop from an imbalance between the long muscles and the intrinsic muscles of the foot, often encouraged by narrow or high-heeled shoes, a bunion pushing the neighbouring toes, or an injury to the plantar plate under the second toe. Some neurological or rheumatic conditions can also cause them.
Let’s be clear: physiotherapy does not straighten a rigid, established deformity. What it can do is relieve pain, maintain or improve flexibility while the toe can still be corrected by hand, strengthen the foot muscles and reduce rubbing with footwear and protection measures. When the toe is rigid and painful despite everything, a specialist can assess other options.
At Centro Ubud we examine each toe, the plantar plate with ultrasound and the rest of the foot, because toes rarely go wrong on their own.
This treatment is for you if…
- You have one or more toes bent into a claw or hammer shape.
- One toe rides over its neighbour or tucks underneath it.
- You get corns or rubbing on the tops or tips of your toes.
- You have pain in the sole under your second toe.
If you have diabetes, poor circulation or loss of sensation in your feet, rubbing and wounds should be checked by your doctor or podiatrist. If you have wounds that won’t heal, redness or heat, seek advice without delay.
Deformities
What we treat
Overlapping toes
Supraductus and infraductus, often associated with a bunion or a plantar plate injury.
See metatarsalgia
Associated bunion
Hallux valgus pushes the second toe and encourages it to ride up.
See bunions without surgeryHow it works
Your treatment, step by step
01
Free consultation
We check whether each toe is flexible or rigid, review your footwear and assess the plantar plate with ultrasound.
02
A realistic plan
We explain what we can and can’t improve, and plan an approximate number of sessions and home exercises.
03
A stronger foot
Foot exercises, mobility work and protective measures to reduce pain and rubbing.
Techniques
How we treat claw toes
Improving how the foot works and reducing pain, with honest expectations.
Exercise
Intrinsic foot muscles
Exercises to actively spread, stabilise and ground the toes.
Manual
Mobilisation
We maintain flexibility in the toes and forefoot joints while they can still be corrected.
Education
Footwear and protection
A wide, deep toe box, toe spacers or silicone protectors to reduce rubbing.
Advanced
Invasive physiotherapy
In selected cases, ultrasound-guided techniques for plantar plate pain or muscle overload.
FlexibleMore room to improve
UltrasoundPlantar plate
ActiveFoot exercise
FreeFirst consultation
Frequently asked questions
Questions about claw toes
Can claw toes be corrected without surgery?
If the toe is still flexible, exercise, footwear and protection can ease pain and slow progression. A rigid deformity won’t be straightened by physiotherapy, although it can become less painful.
What is the difference between a claw toe and a hammer toe?
In a claw toe the base of the toe lifts and the next two joints bend; in a hammer toe the main bend is at the middle joint.
Why is my second toe riding up?
Often because of a plantar plate injury under that toe or a bunion pushing against it. Having it assessed early helps you act while it is still flexible.
Do toe spacers help?
They can reduce rubbing and ease discomfort, but on their own they don’t correct the deformity. They work better combined with exercise and suitable footwear.
How many sessions will I need?
A few sessions are usually enough to teach you the exercise programme and footwear measures, with reviews to adjust them.
When should I consider surgery?
When the toe is rigid and pain or rubbing persists despite conservative measures and limits your daily life. That assessment is made by a specialist.
How much does claw toe treatment cost in Torremolinos?
It depends on your case, how long you have had it and the techniques recommended. At the free consultation we give you a fixed quote with no obligation.
Where are you and how do I book?
We are at Calle Arenas, 12, in La Carihuela (Torremolinos, Málaga). Appointments are booked only via WhatsApp, and we see patients from Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Málaga and the surrounding area.
Centro Ubud · La Carihuela, Torremolinos
Book your free physiotherapy consultation
Tell us what you would like to improve and we will explain, with no obligation, which treatment suits you.
Calle Arenas, 12 · 29620 Torremolinos, Málaga · Get directions · Patient reviews
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Related treatments
Bunions without surgeryHallux valgus →MetatarsalgiaForefoot pain →Foot and ankle painFoot physiotherapy →Plantar fasciitisHeel pain →Therapeutic exerciseActive treatment →
All treatments are subject to a prior professional assessment. Results are individual and may vary from person to person. Centro Ubud is an authorised healthcare centre in Torremolinos (Málaga). NICA 64610. Clínica UBUD S.L. · CIF B56756158.