Foot Deformities

Podiatrists specializing in foot deformities in Woodbury Heights, Haddon Heights, Voorhees, and Pine Hill, NJ

Foot Deformities

If you have a condition affecting your feet, such as an abnormality or structural issue, it's essential for your Podiatrist at Prime Foot and Ankle Specialists to inspect your feet urgently.

This foot condition can significantly affect a person's gait. There's no specific cause, as it is an umbrella term for all anatomical deviations of the feet from normal.  It can cause imbalance, stability problems, and impairments in running, walking, and jumping.

The feet are a complex structure comprised of bones, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels. Deformities typically occur due to alterations in the bones or tendons. Here are some common foot deformities:

Claw toe

Claw toes are most likely to affect the smaller toes, which results in the toes curling downwards like a bird's claw. 

Hammer toe(s). 

Caused by tight, uncomfortable shoes, the toes become permanently bent or propped up at the joint.

Mallet toes

In contrast to hammer toes, mallet toes dip downward at the joint — immensely uncomfortable when wearing shoes.

Tarsal coalition

In children, some of the toes can fuse together. If not addressed immediately, it can produce a permanent foot deformity.

Bunions

Bunions are a protrusion at the base of the big toe caused by wearing tight, restrictive shoes. 

Clubfoot

The muscles on one side of the foot are shorter than the other, causing the foot to turn sharply inward. The child is forced to walk on the outside of their foot, and if not treated, it will result in a permanent deformity.

Flat feet (pes planus)

The arch of the foot disappears. There are several causes of flat feet, from inherited, congenital conditions to the consequences of poor footwear. 

Foot Deformities

Foot Deformity Symptoms

Symptoms can vary as much as the causes of deformities. Regardless, some common symptoms include:

  • Intermittent or persistent foot pain

  • Joint pain

  • Difficulty with activities of daily living, e.g., getting dressed

  • Limited mobility

  • Increased prevalence of corns and calluses

  • Altered gait

  • Lower back discomfort

  • Toenail deformities

Moreover, if left untreated, it can cause other conditions, such as:

  • Bursitis

  • Metatarsalgia

  • Morton's neuroma

  • Plantar fasciitis

  • Multiple tendinitis

  • Capsulitis

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Achilles tendinitis

Foot Deformities

Treatments for Foot Deformities

Most deformities are treated with a combination of physical therapy and orthotics in less severe cases. For certain deformities, like clubfoot or fused toes, surgery is essential. Here are some of the other potential treatments:

Corrective devices

Bracing, casting, and supportive devices can help rectify deformities of the feet or reduce progression.

Surgery

In cases where the deformities are affecting your quality of life and are not responding to treatment, surgery is the last option.

Toe separators and other braces

Plastic separators are useful in conditions like bunions to gradually return the toes to their normal position.

Exercise and stretching

Conditions like hammer toes can be improved through certain exercises, e.g., picking up marbles with the toes. Alongside corrective devices, it can produce a genuine improvement in symptoms.

 FAQs

  • No. Some deformities, like mallet toes, can be extremely painful, particularly in certain circumstances, e.g., wearing shoes. Several deformities are not painful and can even be caused by a lack of sensation in the foot.

  • Yes. If uncontrolled, diabetes will gradually impair the nerve and blood vessel function in the foot, resulting in a Charcot's foot.

    Due to the loss of sensation, the foot can become deformed and requires constant care and attention to manage the condition.

  • There are several simple preventative measures, including:

    Avoid high-heel shoes or sandals that do not support your heel

    Maintain a healthy body weight

    Attend a podiatrist regularly for ongoing foot conditions

    Perform regular low — to moderate-intensity exercise

  • Yes. All types of arthritis impacting the foot can lead to foot deformities. Inflammatory arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis, leads to a joint breakdown, whereas osteoarthritis erodes the bone over time, eventually collapsing the joint space.

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