It’s a condition in which your toes bend into a claw-like position. Here proximal phalanx bend upwards (extension) on metatarsophalangeal joint and other two phalanx bend down wards (flexion) on interphalangeal joint. Claw toe can appear from birth, or your feet can become bent later on.  It’s a generally believed that claw toe is developed by wearing shoes that squeeze your toes, such as shoes that are too short or high heels. However, claw toe most often is the result of nerve damage caused by diseases like diabetes or alcoholism, which can weaken the intrinsic muscles in your foot. Having claw toe means your toes “claw,” digging down into the soles of your shoes and creating painful calluses. Claw toe gets worse without treatment and may become a permanent deformity over time.

• Neuromuscular diseases
• Cavus deformity
• Following delayed treatment or missed compartment syndrome
• Regular use of small shoe with tight toe box and high heel

When you do not get enough relief from self-care and the deformity is severe enough to interfere with footwear use and causing painful corns and calluses.

This condition is recognized by its look only but your doctor will enquire and examine you thoroughly to find any neurological or other predisposing factor as well as secondary complication. If neurological condition is suspected then your doctor may advice a spine MRI or foot neuropathy scan

Selfcare and prevention: 

• If your toes are still flexible, performing regular exercises of foot intrinsic muscle may help alleviate your symptoms or prevent them from getting worse
• Move your toes passively toward their natural position using your hands.
• Wear shoes with soft, roomy toe boxes and avoid tight shoes and high-heels
• Using friction protecting silicon gel cap, sheet and spreader also helps in preventing pain from corn formation.

Based on your symptoms your doctor may advice you:

• A special insole or metatarsal pad that can redistribute your weight and relieve pressure on the ball of your foot as well as toe tip.
• Wear a splint to keep them in the right position.
• You may advised a surgical correction of toe deformity as well as any predisposing foot deformity like cavus foot with soft tissue release in severe deformity and related symptom