Mallet toe Matiwae kuru

Several things can lead to mallet toe. They include:

• shoes that are too small or that squeeze your toes, such as high heels
• genetics — it can run in families
• an injury that jams or breaks your toe
• nerve or muscle damage affecting your foot, such as arthritis or peripheral neuropathy.

Your risk of getting mallet toe increases as you get older. It is more common in women than in men. Having a second toe that is longer than your big toe may also increase your risk.

Mallet toe is like hammertoe, but it affects different joints.  Mallet toe affects the joint closest to the top of the toe. In hammertoe the bend happens at the middle toe joint.

Hammertoe

The symptoms that suggest you are developing mallet toe include:

• pain in your toe, often when your foot moves
• a stiff toe
• corns and calluses
• a toe that is stuck in a bent position.

If you can still straighten your toe, it is called flexible mallet toe. If you cannot move it at all, it is called fixed mallet toe.

Pressure on the top of the toe joint can cause irritation. You may develop a corn on the top of your toe, and a callus on the bottom.

Corns and calluses can become painful and cause extra symptoms, such as:

• redness
• bleeding
• difficulty wearing socks and shoes.

As long as mallet toe is not painful and does not change the way you walk, it does not need to be treated.

If you need treatment, it will focus on reducing the pressure under the tip of your toe. You may need special footwear that has extra space around the toe to reduce this pressure.

Seeing a podiatrist for shoe inserts (orthotics) or toe protectors can often help. If the joint can still move, physiotherapy can also help.

Find a podiatrist — Podiatry NZexternal link

Find a physiotherapist — Physiotherapy NZexternal link

If podiatry and physiotherapy have not improved your pain, you may need surgery. This is unlikely to be covered by the public health system. Speak to your healthcare provider about a referral to a private orthopaedic surgeon.

If your mallet toe happens after an injury, this might be treated with a splint. See your healthcare provider to check if you need any treatment.

The best way to avoid mallet toe is to make sure you wear shoes that fit you properly. Podiatrists suggest you get your feet measured properly. Then, when buying shoes:

• make sure there is a centimetre of space for your longest toe at the end of each shoe when you are standing
• shop for shoes at the end of the day — your feet naturally swell slightly during the day and tend to be bigger later in the day
• buy shoes that fit your longest foot
• always try shoes on before buying and make sure they are comfortable and have plenty of room — shoe sizes vary by brand, so it is best not to rely on size only
• make sure the tops of the shoes do not rub on your toes
• avoid shoes with pointed toes, and slip-on shoes that have no back strap, such as jandals
• buy wide shoes with good shock-absorbing soles.

You should also:

• limit the amount of time you wear high heels
• keep your toes flexible with stretches and exercises such as picking up objects with your toes.

When buying shoes for tamariki, make sure the shoes are fitted properly, especially at times they are growing quickly.

You can prevent many foot problems by following a few simple steps:

• wear comfortable shoes that fit properly, and avoid shoes that are too narrow
• wear shoes that are appropriate for your type of work and sport
• check your feet and toes regularly for any skin changes or deformities
• see a podiatrist if you have pain in a foot or toe
• stretch your foot daily to strengthen the muscles.