If one of your toes overlaps another one of your toes, you’re not alone. A recent study found that roughly 7 percent of Americans have an overlapping toe, and for many people, the condition is more unsightly than painful. That said, an overlapping toe shouldn’t be ignored just because it isn’t causing symptoms. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at overlapping toes and share some common treatment techniques.
Overlapping Toe Causes And Symptoms
Any toe can overlap an adjacent toe, but it tends to occur most commonly in the big toe or the little toe. Sometimes it is simply the result of hereditary factors, but more often other types of contributing factors play a role in their onset. Some of those causes and factors include:
Ill-Fitting Shoes – Shoes that are too tight can put excess pressure on the front or sides of our toes, injuring ligaments that hold them in a normal position and forcing them to rest at an odd angle.
Obesity – Being overweight or obese also puts extra strain on your feet and toes, which can contribute to toe shifting and overlapping.
Arthritis – Arthritic degeneration in the toe joints can lead to joint malformation and the crossing of toes.
Bunions – Bunions are a condition we’ve talked about on the blog a lot in the past, and when they are severe, the shifting of the big toe joint can actually push your big toe across its neighbor.
Hammertoes – Hammertoes cause the toe to buckle upwards at the mid-joint, but if additional forces are damaging these ligaments, the toe can also cross over a neighbor.
As we mentioned in the introduction, overlapping toes may not be symptomatic at the beginning, but left untreated, symptoms will likely become an eventuality. Some of the more common symptoms associated with overlapping toes include:
- Pain
- The formation of corns or calluses
- Visible deformation
- Swelling if the toes rub against one another
- Difficulty wearing shoes comfortably
- Gait changes
Untreated toe malformations can also lead to additional foot problems, like bunions or metatarsalgia. If you’re dealing with one or more overlapping toes, it’s time to set up a consultation with a foot specialist like Dr. Silverman.
Diagnosing And Treating Overlapping Toes
Overlapping toes can be diagnosed by a simple physical exam, but if the underlying cause is not evident, imaging exams like an X-ray or MRI may be required to examine the bones or soft tissues in the toes. Once your foot specialist has pinpointed the underlying cause, they’ll walk you through some treatment options. Some of the most common treatments for overlapping toes include:
Footwear Changes – Changing footwear to a wider or more comfortable option can take stress off the toes and help them settle back into a normal position, or at least keep the condition from worsening.
Toe Separators – Toe separators are a passive treatment option that can help to shift your toes back to a natural position.
Physical Therapy – If soft tissue problems with your muscles, tendons or ligaments are to blame, physical therapy exercises can help strengthen these structures and correct your overlapping toes.
Weight Loss – Weight loss can help reduce pressure on your feet and toes, and in turn aid in toe positioning.
Orthotic Inserts/Toe Splints – Corrective devices like a splint or orthotic insert can also help guide your toes back down a natural path.
Minimally Invasive Surgery – A minimally invasive operation can shift the toes back into place, or they can address the underlying problem that is causing the issue. For example, bunion correction should also take care of any toe shifting.
If you notice that one of more of your toes is crossing over another, or you’re dealing with pain in one or more of your toes, reach out to Dr. Silverman and the team at Silverman Ankle & Foot today at (952) 224-8500.
