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» Health Information » Conditions A-M » Claw Toe

Claw Toe

Claw toe is normally caused by nerve damage from diseases like diabetes or alcoholism, which can weaken the muscles in your foot, according to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society.

Having claw toe means your toes “claw,” digging down into the soles of your shoes and creating painful calluses. Claw toe worsens without treatment and may become a permanent deformity over time.

Common symptoms of claw toe include:

• Toes bent upward from the joints at the ball of the foot
• Toes bent downward at the middle joints toward the sole of your shoe
• Corns on the top of the toe or under the ball of the foot

The expert doctors at Ankle & Foot Associates, LLC, can repair your claw toes when they are detected early, though they can harden into place over time. A splint or tape is commonly used to hold your toes in the correct position.