Curly Toes

Keeping toes flexible and supple will help. Stretching the toes out straight when drying them after bath time is an easy thing to do and implement into a daily routine. Toe spacers/separators, which can be bought in the chemist or from the internet, may also help hold the toes apart and prevent rubbing.

These however are not tolerated quite so well in younger children. Always ensure your child is wearing good supportive shoes that have been properly fitted, allowing lots of room at the toes so they can spread evenly. A small number of older children may benefit from wearing insoles in their shoes.

When to see your GP:

• If the toes are causing painful blisters or rubbing, callouses or ingrowing infected toe nails.
• Your GP may make a referral to an orthopaedic surgeon.
• The orthopaedic surgeon may suggest an operation which can be performed on the underside of the toe to release the tight tendon.
• Very rarely, if all of the toes of one or both feet are clawed, as if gripping an object and the in-step is particularly high, there may be an underlying neurological cause that requires further investigation, usually an MRI scan.
• Treatment for these feet varies significantly from that of curly toes, and is tailored depending on the underlying diagnosis.
• If your child is experiencing painful rubbing of infected toe nails or all of the toes of the foot are clawing then go to your GP.

• Curly toes rarely need any treatment and they do not affect walking or running.
• The use of strapping and taping for babies has been used extensively in the past however up to date research and clinical experience has shown this to be of little/no benefit.