Hammertoe Correction Without Surgery: Is It Possible?
Posted January 27, 2025 in Hammertoes

No one wants to have surgery if they can help it, and while it can provide some lasting results for advanced hammertoes, some early stages of hammertoe can be helped with noninvasive approaches. This blog discusses the early signs of hammertoe, at-home remedies, and when to consider surgery.
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Can You Fix Hammertoe Without Surgery?
Hammertoe results from a muscle imbalance in the foot, which causes the ligaments and tendons to become unnaturally tight. The tendons pull the toes at the first joint, curling them up, eventually leading to stiffness, pain, and a loss of mobility.
Common foot ailments such as hammertoes are best treated as soon as possible. Most patients may not realize they are developing hammertoe, but knowing the signs can help people implement early intervention methods.
Symptoms of early hammertoe include:
- Stiffness in the toe
- Some mobility, but limited
- Pain at the top of the toe or when moving it
- Discomfort in shoes
- Corns or calluses on top of the toe
If your case of hammertoe is mild, you may be able to improve your condition with noninvasive, therapeutic techniques as follows.
How to Fix Hammertoe at Home
These suggestions are to help you be informed about noninvasive hammertoe treatments. However, you should still see your podiatrist for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Orthotics
Custom orthotics are prescription shoe inserts molded to your feet. They can serve many purposes depending on your needs and anatomy. Orthotics are also great for rehabilitating the foot in cases of an awkward or unnatural gait (the way you walk). Custom orthotics can help hammertoe as early intervention care, as they support the toes by redistributing pressure more evenly across the bones and joints of your feet. This can ease inflammation, pain, and pressure points that exacerbate hammertoes.
Physical Therapy
Early stages of hammertoe can be helped immensely by physical therapy, as your therapist can show you stretches to help lengthen the ligaments, strengthening exercises to improve muscle balance, and manual therapy to improve range of motion.
Footwear Modifications
Improper footwear, such as high heels or shoes that crowd the toes, are primary triggers for hammertoe, so one of the best things you can do to improve your condition is to change your footwear. Flexible shoes with straps or laces that you can adjust, along with those that support your arches and leave room in the toes, are ideal.
Splints, Cushions, and Pads
Custom splints, cushions, pads, and toe stretchers/separators are options for noninvasive hammertoe therapy in addition to shoe sole orthotics. Toe separators keep the toes separate and flat, while toe wraps bind the hammertoe to the one next to it. Be sure that if you use these options, they fit your feet properly and do not crowd your toes even more, especially while wearing shoes.
What If Non-surgical or Home Remedies Don’t Work?
Many of these home remedies work best in combination with one another, but if you find that your hammertoe pain is staying persistent or progressing, it might be time to explore other options. The problem may be that you are using the devices or techniques improperly, in which case, you should check with your doctor or podiatrist about best practices. Otherwise, your condition may be too advanced for noninvasive remedies.
When to Consider Hammertoe Surgery
Signs that you might need hammertoe surgery include:
- Your toe is entirely rigid and cannot be moved
- Your pain levels are debilitating and/or constant
- Your hammertoe hinders your ability to walk
The longer you let hammertoes progress, the more difficult they will be to manage and treat with conservative methods. While surgery is usually something people want to avoid, hammertoe surgery has very high success rates with a relatively mild recovery period. Most patients who undergo hammertoe surgery in a timely manner do not need a second procedure.
Want to Learn More About Hammertoe Remedies in NYC?
If you think you have a hammertoe developing, schedule a consultation with our experienced NYC podiatrist, Dr. Ethan Ciment. At Chelsea Foot & Ankle, we take a conservative approach to all of our treatments before resorting to surgery. Call us today at (646) 929-4149 or fill out our contact form to get started.