Overlapping digits

1. [noun] overlapping Toes is a fairly common condition in which one or more toes turns lies on top of an adjacent toe. The fifth toe is the one most commonly affected. It may be present at birth or develop later in life. You are more prone to corn, callus, wound and blister formation with overlapping toes. Common causes of overlapping toes in adults include: Poor footwear - too small, high heels or tight toe box Gait (biomechanics ) – posture and the way you walk ie. over pronation Heredity - inherit a bone structure that leads to overlapping, such as Morton’s toe Arthritis - inflamed and stiff joint changing the alignment of the toes ie. Rheumatoid arthritis Tight calf muscle – increased the pressure on the ball of your foot contributes to a bunion and overlapping toes Hallux Valgus (bunion) – pushes great toe onto the 2 nd . Can cause a chain reaction with the other digits Flat feet (pes planus) – associated with pronation and overlapping Hammer toe – if the toe is hammered the next digit may overlap the distal end as it’s bent down instead of straight forward High arch (pes cavus) – can lead to a hammer toe which leads to an overlap Age – With age the feet often over pronate which leads to overlap Injury – May affect the joints in the toes Diabetes – Increase in foot deformities related to diabetes which leads to overlap * Diabetics with poor circulation and individuals with nerve impairment are at greater risk with this type of foot structure. Because of the friction and pressure points that are created with toes that do not line up straight Conservative treatment measures: Always discuss treatment options a medical doctor/podiatrist Proper fitting shoes or modifications to footwear Decrease pressure with toe separators, padding, insert or orthoic Physical therapy – if due to tight muscles and tendons Passive stretching Maintain optimal weight – reduce pressure on feet Surgical treatment measures: These types of treatments are rarely successful, however, and in most cases surgery will be required to correct the deformity, especially if it has had time to become rigid. When the deformity is flexible in nature a simple release of the tendon in the bottom of the toe will allow for straightening of the toe. If the deformity is rigid in nature then removal of a small portion of the bone in the toe may be necessary. Sources: Podiatry Network Absolute Foot Care by Noah Levine, DPM Foot Vitals by Dr. Matthew Garoufalis Podiatry Group of Georgia Accessed Nov 2nd 2019

Source: http://www.podiatrynetwork.com/common-disorders/176-overlaping-toes