When you have a hammer toe, the affected toe bends at the middle joint. Hammer toe can develop in any of the toes, but typically affects the second or third one. In order to prevent stiffness in the affected toe, it is important to treat hammer toe right away. One form of treatment is stretching and exercising your toe. We take a look at what some of those exercises include.
Foot Exercises
If your toe is still flexible, try the following exercises once a day to prevent the muscles in your toe from worsening. These stretches can strengthen your toe muscles and maybe even reverse the deformity. They include:
Toe Crunch
This type of crunch exercise is done to work your toe muscles.
Sit comfortably on a chair. Place a towel on the floor and place the upper half of your bare foot on the towel. With your heel on the ground, scrunch the towel up with your toes and then release.
Repeat this exercise 10 to 12 times.
Toe Taps
Remaining in the position you were in for toe crunches, extend your big toe downward while moving your remaining toes upward. Hold the position and gently tap the floor with your toes.
After doing 10 to 12 taps, reverse your toe position so that your big toe points upward and your other toes point downward. Do another 10 to 12 taps.
Toe Rolls
Stand barefoot on a flat surface and lift all of your toes up, then roll them down one at a time from the little toe to the big toe. This exercise is similar to tapping your fingers from side to side on a table.
Repeat 10 to 12 times, then change directions.
Squeeze
This is an exercise that can be done while sitting. After placing your foot over your thigh, slide your fingers in between your toes and squeeze your toes together, pinching your fingers. Release. If you find that it’s too much for you to do all of your toes, you can start with one finger between two toes and work your way up until you can do all of them.
Repeat 10 to 12 times.
Manual Stretch
Using a towel to stretch your toes helps lengthen your toe muscles. Sit on the ground with your legs straight out in front of you. After wrapping a towel under your toes, apply light backward pressure and hold for 20 to 30 seconds. You can also pull your toes back with your hand.
Repeat 10 to 12 times.
