Also known as “claw toes”, claw foot is something in which the toes are deformed in a certain way. This leaves the foot looking more like a claw. Some cases of claw foot are congenital, which means that it is present at birth. There are instances, however, when it can be due to an underlying medical condition.
While it’s not serious or life-threatening, claw foot can cause sheer discomfort. However, it’s possible for someone who has it to experience no discomfort, especially when it’s mild. It is possible for corns, calluses or even skin ulcers to eventually form, which can be the ones that can make having claw foot a real day-to-day problem.
There are things that can be done to keep the condition from worsening. In severe cases, undergoing the knife can have it corrected. At the appearance of claw foot, it’s of utmost importance for a foot expert to be consulted right away so that early intervention, such as conservative measures, can be done.
Causes
Just like what’s mentioned earlier, claw foot can appear at birth. Although at times it may be due to something as simple as getting your ankle injured. Undergoing surgery involving the ankle may pave the way for claw foot, too. Just about anything that can weaken the muscles or nerves in the foot can cause this deforming condition.
Experts say that in some instances, the root cause of claw foot is something that cannot be identified. On the other hand, there are a bunch of medical conditions that are known to increase a person’s risk of ending up with claw foot. Some of those that can make you susceptible to having claw foot include:
- Diabetes. Increased levels of sugar in the blood can cause damage to the nerves, which can cause a number of complications including the weakening of the foot muscles.
- Stroke. When a part of the brain fails to get oxygen due to a blood clot, nerve damage can occur. Various body parts can become affected, and one of them is the foot.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. The immune system can attack even healthy and normal tissues of the body, including the nerves, muscles and joints of the foot, which can lead to a host of problems.
- Cerebral palsy. Having this condition can affect the tone of the muscles, leaving them either too loose or too stiff. Certainly, it can cause deformity of the foot and its various parts.
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. An inherited condition involving the nervous system, it’s something that can affect various parts of the body, causing weakness and deformity.
Signs and Symptoms
It is when standing up when the impact of claw foot on the affected foot can be observed very well. Just like what the name says, this condition can make the foot appear like it’s a claw — it has a very high arch that can be stiff (although it may start out flexible) and the toes are pointing downwards.
Most of the time, claw foot can cause a lot of discomfort. Needless to say, the gait of the person who has it is affected not only because of the deformity itself, but also due to the discomfort it comes with.
There are times, however, when claw foot per se is not the root cause of the discomfort, but some of the things that may appear because of it — corns, calluses and skin ulcers. The progression of the disease may ultimately bring pain and various complications, such as tendinitis and ankle impingement.
Treatments
Seeking the help of a foot expert is a good idea upon noticing the presence of claw foot. That’s because it is very much possible for certain measures to be done that can help slow down or delay the progression of the deformity. It’s also something that can pave the way for the early detection and treatment of an underlying condition.
Claw foot that is severe and refuses to respond to conservative approaches or have become so rigid may be corrected via surgery to provide room for the affected foot to straighten out on its own.
