If you’ve ever wondered why one of your toes curls down underneath its neighbors, it may be because you have a hammer toe or a defect in the middle joint of your toe. A hammer toe happens when the tendon permanently tightens and pulls it from the bottom or top, which can deform the toe and make it look like a hammer, explains Bradley Schaeffer, DPM, board-certified foot and ankle surgeon. While painless at first, hammer toe can worsen over time if left untreated, according to Patrick McEneaney, DPM, podiatrist, and founder/CEO of Northern Illinois Foot & Ankle Specialists. Luckily, hammer toe straighteners can help by exerting a force that can help stretch and straighten out the toe. We researched dozens of hammer toe straighteners and evaluated them for material, comfort, and value. An assistant professor of orthopedics and practicing sports medicine and spine care doctor from our Medical Expert Board reviewed the contents of this article for medical accuracy, including what to look for in hammer toe straighteners, how to use them, and the potential risks involved. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Best Overall Runner-up: Best Hammer Toe Brace: Best for Under Shoes: Best for Bunions: Best Crest Pad: In This Article Our Picks How We Selected What to Look For Our Experts FAQ Why Trust Verywell Health Pros Painlessly realigns toes Inexpensive Cons Can’t wear under socks or with shoes Material: 100 percent medical grade gel, BPA and latex-free | Additional Benefits: May help bunions, plantar fasciitis, crossed toes, claw toes, and more We love the YogaToes Gem Stretcher and Separator as our best overall choice for treating hammer toe. Not only is it comfortable and can offer quick relief, but it’s also reasonably priced. This product is available as a set (for your left and right foot) and is made in the USA using a tough but flexible BPA-free gel. It is recommended to wear these straighteners for 15 minutes and then build up to an hour. They are available in men’s and women’s sizes, and the playful design looks like you’re holding gems between your toes. They can be a little big and bulky, though, and they don’t fit inside socks or shoes, so take some time to pamper yourself, put your feet up, stretch your toes, and take a break. Pros Two-piece device lengthens and separates toes to realign joints Extremely affordable Flexible Cons Can’t wear them in most shoes, but can wear under socks Doesn’t come in multiple sizes Material: Gel | Additional Benefits: May help bunions, hallux valgus, bunionette, hammer toes, and claw toes. This is a great option if you’re looking for relief from hammer toe pain at a price that can fit your budget. This four-pack from ToePal comes with a set of toe straighteners and a separate set of toe separators to help target the part of your feet that needs the most relief. Made with stretchy medical-grade gel, these can fit most feet and are low profile enough to wear with socks (or a pair of roomy slippers) when walking around the house.Depending on your toe size, you may even be able to wear both the straighteners and separators simultaneously. It’s recommended to take breaks frequently though and not to wear them for long periods of time—especially if it starts to interfere with blood circulation. Pros Can wear as much as you want, as needed More low-key than other toe separators Cons Only for people with one problem toe, not for multiple injured toes Material: Gel | Additional Benefits: May help with calluses and corns, overlapping toes, toe joint pain, hammer toe, and skin irritation Most of the hammer toe straighteners on this list will fit across all of your toes, but while very effective, they can limit your ability to put on a pair of comfy shoes and take a walk outside or around the office. That’s why this set of single-toe separators is perfect for anyone who just needs relief around one or two toes. Each separator is soft, stretchy, and slides onto your toe like a ring. There is a large spacer on one side that you can place on either the left or right side of your toe, depending on which direction you need your toe to point. These separators are incredibly low-profile and can help keep your hammer toe straight, meaning they can be worn with shoes and even some sandals. They come in five colors, including clear and very colorful blue. This set can be worn all day and even at night—just make sure to check with your doctor before wearing it too long. This product is best for people who are only experiencing problems with one toe. If you're experiencing multiple hammer toes you may want to consider another option. Pros Two-in-one device Adjustable fit loop Discreet Cons Only straightens one toe at a time May not work for more severe cases Material: Fibrous composite, washable, and reusable | Additional Benefits: Helps overlapping toes, mallet toes, and v-shaped toes, while protecting the ball of the foot with the soft cushion underneath Hammer toe straighteners can provide a lot of relief from foot pain but can also be a little bulky and hard to hide in sandals or shoes that show off your toes. These hammer-toe braces are designed to hide inside most shoes. The brace sits under the ball of the foot (which can add extra cushion and support to the ball of your foot and help reduce arch pain) and has an adjustable strap that goes up and around the toe—so it can fit any adult toe, no matter how big or small. The strap is made of fabric and looks like a band-aid when worn, so no one would be able to tell that you’re wearing a toe support. Just adjust the strap so that it keeps your hammer toe straight and flat—but make sure not to over-tighten it and cause discomfort.These straighteners are very durable and can be hand washed, which you’ll appreciate after a long day in your sweaty shoes. They come in a pack of four but are very wide and can only be worn on one toe at a time, so you’ll definitely have a few spares on hand. It only straightens one toe at a time and may not be the best option for more severe hammer toe cases. Pros Discrete and flexible Can fit and be worn under shoes and socks Washable, reusable fabric Cons Only wraps two toes at a time Cannot be worn 24/7 or for more than 18 hours in a row Material: Fabric | Additional Benefits: Promotes healing for broken toes, separates hammer toes, and alleviates pain When it comes to an effective, simple, and non-invasive toe straightener, it would be challenging to find one more straight forward than the ZenToes Broken Toe Wraps. These wraps are especially low-profile and look like mini medical wraps that can securely wrap around two toes. These wraps are intended to stabilize and strengthen individual toes as well as treat common foot conditions like hammer toes,broken toes, and crooked toes. They are washable and can be reused over and over again as needed. Each package comes with four wraps and is one-size-fits-all. Each strap is made out of breathable nylon and is so thin they can be worn comfortably in almost any sock or shoe that you may even forget you’re wearing it all. Make sure to read the manufacturer’s recommendations because you shouldn’t wear these straps for more than 18 hours at a time. Pros Completely covers toe, preventing friction and promotes healing Flexible gel material that molds to any toe (even your little toe) Stays in place Cons You must trim product to fit smaller toes May feel hot, and uncomfortable Material: Latex-free gel | Additional Benefits: Can help heal bunions, ingrown toenails, blisters, corns, and hammer toes Foot pain from hammer toe can be pretty uncomfortable, but it can be made even worse if you are also dealing with corns, calluses, blisters, or damage to your toenails from wearing uncomfortable shoes. These toe caps work to protect your toes from accidentally getting jammed or bumped as you go through your day. These soft gel caps can be worn over any toe and molded to help keep your toe straightened out. It can also work to protect any sensitive or delicate corns or blisters from friction or impact while you walk.Each package comes with six toe caps and are available in three different colors—black, white, and beige—and in small and large toe sizes. So no matter which toes are giving you trouble, you should be able to buy a size that fits. They're latex-free and washable, so you can reuse them multiple times. They are fairly low-profile and can fit in a sock and most loose-fitting shoes. They are also safe enough to run or walk in, but make sure to take breaks if they cause any discomfort. However, if you have shorter toes, you may need to cut down the length of the cap to get that perfect fit. Pros Offers arch support Customizable Can be worn under socks and shoes Cons Gel material may feel uncomfortable if worn for long periods Material: Gel | Additional Benefits: Washable and reusable, straightens toes, corrects hammer toes, and relieves pain Finding a proper treatment for hammer toe can be a challenge, and your specific needs may not always be met by other toe straighteners. Dr. Frederick’s hammer toe treatment set aims to combine many of the best elements of other toe straighteners in a size that’s small enough to fit inside your shoes. Made with a stretchy gel material, these straighteners come in a four-pack and are one-size-fits-all, so no need to worry about measuring your feet or toes ahead of time. They can fit around three toes at a time—a single-toe loop design is also sold separately—and are attached to a brace that sits beneath your toes. This low-profile brace is slim, contoured, and sleek enough to fit inside your socks and shoes. The toe loops can help separate and straighten your hammer toe, and the padded brace helps hold it in place.On top of all that, they are also washable and reusable, meaning you can rotate them out regularly without worrying about them getting too stinky or sweaty after repeated use. But like many of the other pain relievers on this list, there is no suggested maximum amount of time that they can be worn, make sure to take breaks and not wear them overnight until you know how they interact with your feet. When choosing products that can help alleviate hammer toe pain, we compared many products and looked at the quality of materials that were used, how they were designed, and how easy or difficult they were to use. We evaluated toe straighteners on the following criteria: We talked to several podiatrists to learn more about what causes hammer toe and ways to correct or prevent it from forming. These experts include: Are there any risks associated with hammer toe straighteners? The purpose of a hammer toe straightener is to realign the joint of the deformed toe, but sometimes, it works in reverse and bends the healthy toe or toes instead. McEneaney says that you should be careful because sometimes, if the injured toe is strapped to a healthy one, it can also pull the other toe into a deformity. Remember—toe straighteners are only effective when used as directed and consistently starting early on, and you may need a combination of orthotics to help your own toes. How often should you wear a hammer toe straightener? This depends on the product you’re choosing. Some may be worn 24/7, while others should only be worn for 60 minutes or up to 18 hours. Clear instructions on this will be printed on the packaging of each product. If you are experiencing pain or other side effects as a result of wearing them, consider taking a break or choosing a different style or a pair made out of a different material. Shannon Thompson, DPM, podiatrist at Ace Feet in Weymouth, Massachusetts, reminds us that, as a general rule of thumb, toe straighteners shouldn't hurt. Can people with arthritis wear hammer toe straighteners? Over time, arthritis can cause toes to curl or bend or rest in different directions, even if this has never happened to you before. Therefore, you may use toe straighteners to correct this problem and provide relief. Schaeffer says that if bones become too arthritic, the hammertoe straightener won't be as effective at properly straightening the toe. If you’re ever unsure, check with your doctor to confirm. As an experienced health writer, Steven Rowe knows how to truly evaluate a product and tell the difference between marketing claims and real facts so that you can find the best products that actually work and make your day better. He has experience covering health tech and researching the best treatment options and resources available for the people who need it. Additional reporting by Sarah Bradley Sarah Bradley has been writing health content since 2017—everything from product roundups and illness FAQs to nutrition explainers and the dish on diet trends. She knows how important it is to receive trustworthy and expert-approved advice about over-the-counter products that manage everyday health conditions, from GI issues and allergies to chronic headaches and joint pain.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/VWH-best-hammer-toe-straighteners-1337814-b01e2e31c1814ebabb98d2921d7b9d9d.jpg "Hammer Toes? Try These 7 Editor-Approved Toe Straighteners That Actually Work (1)")
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