A toe that bends or curls downward at the middle joint — rubbing in your shoes and sometimes forming corns — is a hammertoe. At Kim Holistic Foot & Ankle Center, we’ve provided hammertoe treatment in Long Beach for more than 35 years, easing the pressure and pain and, when it’s caught early, helping slow how far it progresses. Call (562) 426-2551 or book an appointment online.
A hammertoe is a bend at the middle joint of a toe — most often the second, third, or fourth — usually caused by an imbalance in the muscles and tendons that keep the toe straight. Early on it stays flexible; over time it can become rigid. Common contributors include:
The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons has a helpful overview of hammertoes if you’d like more background.
Treatment depends on whether the toe is still flexible or has become rigid:
We’re located at 701 E 28th St #111, Long Beach, CA 90806 — serving Long Beach, Signal Hill, Lakewood, Carson, and surrounding communities. Office hours: Mon 9:00 AM–12:30 PM & 2:00–5:30 PM; Tue–Wed 9:15 AM–12:30 PM & 2:00–5:30 PM; Thu 9:15 AM–12:30 PM & 2:30–5:30 PM. Closed Fridays except the third Friday of each month; closed weekends.
While the toe is still flexible, roomier shoes, padding, orthotics, and stretching can relieve pain and ease pressure. These steps won’t straighten a rigid toe, but many people manage comfortably without surgery.
Usually a muscle or tendon imbalance in the foot, often made worse by tight or pointed shoes, and sometimes linked to bunions or high arches. It can run in families.
They can gradually stiffen from flexible to rigid if the pressure isn’t addressed. Early care and better-fitting footwear help slow that progression.
If the toe is painful, rubbing in shoes, forming corns or calluses, or getting stiffer — and promptly if you have diabetes or a sore that won’t heal.
Call (562) 426-2551 or request an appointment at our Long Beach office. One visit is usually all it takes to know how far your hammertoe has progressed — and the simplest way to relieve it.