Learn About Claw Foot
Claw foot is a deformity of the foot. The joint of the toe that is closest to the ankle is bent upward, and the other joints are bent downward. The toe looks like a claw.
Claw toes
Claw toes may be present at birth (congenital). The condition can also develop later in life because of other disorders (acquired). Claw toes may be caused by a nerve problem in the legs or a spinal cord problem or signs of arthritis. The cause is unknown in many cases.
Most of the time, claw toes are not harmful by themselves. Rarely, they may be the first sign of a more serious disease of the nervous system.
Claw toes may cause pain and lead to calluses on the top of the toe over the first joint, but may also be painless. The condition may create problems fitting into shoes.
Causes may include:
- Ankle fractures or surgery
- Cerebral palsy
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
- Other brain and nervous system disorders
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Contact your health care provider if you think you may be getting claw toes.
The provider will do an exam to check for muscle, nerve, and spine problems. The physical exam will most likely include extra attention to the feet and hands. The provider will examine the flexibility of your toes and ankle.
You will be asked questions about your condition, such as:
- When did you first notice this?
- Did you have a previous injury?
- Is it getting worse?
- Does it affect both feet?
- Do you have other symptoms at the same time?
- Do you have any abnormal feelings or loss of feeling in your toes or feet?
- Do any other family members have the same condition?
The abnormal shape of the toe can increase pressure and cause calluses or ulcers on your toes. Fabric pads or sleeves that cover the top of your toes may help. You may need to wear special shoes to ease pressure. Sometimes passive stretching or taping of the affected toe can be used to reduce the symptoms. Claw toes can also be treated surgically to realign the toe.
Tun Lui practices in Sar, China. Lui is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Claw Foot. Their top areas of expertise are Claw Foot, Hammer Toe, Tenosynovitis, Synovectomy, and Endoscopy.
Proliance Surgeons
Jonathan S. Hall, MD, is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon sub-specializing in foot and ankle surgery. His advanced training from some of the world’s leaders in this field has been extensive in the operative and non-operative treatment of ankle, hindfoot, midfoot, and forefoot disorders. His expertise includes problems related to ankle and foot deformities, leg, ankle and foot fractures, sports injuries to the ankle and foot leading to pain and instability, nerve, muscle and tendon injuries, and pain due to arthritis in the ankle and foot. His clinical interests also include reconstruction, fusion, and joint replacement.He was born and raised in Seattle, attending Garfield High School. He then attended Yale University and played college football. He worked for many years in the internet technology industry in both Seattle and Silicon Valley, working for businesses such as Disney, ABC News, ESPN, the NBA and the NFL, followed by starting his own business. He eventually decided to attend medical school and continue the family tradition. He is a fourth-generation doctor who is fully committed to his family’s tradition of caring for the people of the Pacific Northwest. The University of Washington’s student health center is named after his great grandfather, Dr. David C. Hall.Dr. Hall and his wife are parents to twins, who takes up most of his free time. When he is able to get away he loves golfing, reading a good book, and playing the occasional pick-up basketball game or flag football game. It is very important to him to remain highly active, which translates well to his goals for every patient: to maintain a level of activity that promotes health and happiness to you and those around you. Dr. Hall is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Claw Foot. His top areas of expertise are Tendinitis, Metatarsalgia, Macrodactyly of the Foot, Achilles Tendon Rupture, and Hip Replacement.
Summit Orthopedics
Samuel Russ, M.D., is an orthopedic surgeon at Summit Orthopedics specializing in foot and ankle care, serving Minneapolis/St. Paul patients. He has a special interest in sports-related injuries, arthroscopy, and reconstructive foot and ankle surgery. He completed a foot and ankle fellowship at St. Mary’s Orthopedics in Maine. “I try all the things to help people live functional, pain-free lives without surgery first,” Dr. Russ says. “Then, if we determine that the individual requires surgery, I work with the patient to figure out what he or she needs, so that I am not doing too much or too little. I work to individualize the surgical treatment plan.” He volunteers his surgical skills to underserved communities through One World Surgery. Dr. Russ is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Claw Foot. His top areas of expertise are Flat Feet, Achilles Tendon Rupture, Metatarsalgia, and Osteochondritis Dissecans.
Summary: In France, more than 110.000 patients are hospitalized for stroke per year. It is the leading cause of sudden disabilities in adults. Incidence of spastic foot is evaluated at 1 year post stroke from 18% to 56% of hemiplegic patients. Spasticity, defined as an increase in the velocity-dependent response to muscle stretch measured at rest, is part of the upper motor neuron syndrome and is character...
Summary: The LYNC clinical investigation aims to confirm the clinical benefits, performance and safety of the Lync® device when implanted in the toes for the treatment of arthritis and correction of bone misalignments. The main objective of the study is to confirm the clinical benefits of the Lync® device for the treatment of arthritis and the correction of bone alignment default, by evaluating the restora...
Published Date: June 04, 2025
Published By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Grear BJ. Neurogenic disorders. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 87.
Murphy GA. Lesser toe abnormalities. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 84.