Dear Dr. K: I am a 57-year-old woman with hammertoes, which can
make walking or standing painful. The worst part is that I like
to walk for exercise, so this problem is cutting into my health
regimen. What's the best way to deal with this problem? Ah, the
toes. They're a small part of our bodies, but crucial to keeping
our balance and walking or running well. And as you now know,
woes with your toes — and hammertoes are among the most common —
can take away the simple pleasure of walking. Hammertoes are
toes that get "stuck" in a bent position because the tendons and
ligaments in the toes have been pulled tight. They're called
hammertoes because they look like the little pieces inside a
piano called hammers. In many cases, the culprit is fashion. If
you are fond of high heels (particularly ones with pointed
toes), and wear them a lot, that could have contributed to your
problem. We know that supportive, flat-soled shoes are better
for your feet (and can be quite fashionable these days).
Constantly squeezing t