Mallet Toe Treatment at Foot Foundation
Mallet toes cause the tip of the toe to bend downward, leading to painful corns, calluses, nail damage, and difficulty wearing shoes. Unlike hammer or claw toes, the deformity is isolated to the toe tip but can still cause significant discomfort.
At Foot Foundation, our podiatrists provide expert mallet toe care—combining footwear solutions, orthotics, padding, and callus management. When needed, we also coordinate surgical referral, ensuring patients get long-lasting relief and improved comfort in daily life.
What are Mallet Toes?
A mallet toe is a deformity where the end of the toe (distal phalanx) bends downward at the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint, causing the tip of the toe to press into the ground or shoe.
Unlike hammer toes (which affect the middle joint) or claw toes (which involve multiple joints), mallet toes are isolated to the tip of the toe. This often leads to painful corns, calluses, or nail changes from pressure against shoes.
Mallet toes may be flexible (correctable with manual movement) or rigid (fixed deformity). At Foot Foundation, we provide specialist care to reduce pain, protect the toe, and correct underlying biomechanical causes.
Causes & Risk Factors
Footwear – shoes with narrow or shallow toe boxes forcing the tip of the toe downward
Biomechanics – long second or third toes, flat feet, or abnormal toe alignment
Muscle imbalance – between flexor and extensor tendons
Trauma – previous toe injury or stubbing
Arthritis – degenerative or inflammatory joint disease affecting the DIP joint
Bunions – drifting of the big toe can crowd adjacent toes into mallet deformity
Genetics – family history of toe deformities
Age – increased risk with weakening soft tissues and long-term footwear effects
Treatment at Foot Foundation
Footwear advice – wider, deeper toe box shoes with cushioning to reduce pressure
Custom orthotics – redistribute pressure, offload the tip of the toe, and improve mechanics
Padding & silicone props – protect the toe tip and relieve corns/calluses
Exercise therapy – stretching and strengthening toe extensors in flexible cases
Manual therapy & mobilisation – maintain joint mobility and prevent stiffness
Corn and callus care – podiatric debridement for immediate relief
Shockwave therapy – for associated tendon pain if present
Referral for surgery – if deformity is rigid and painful, surgical correction may involve tendon release or partial joint fusion
Symptoms
Downward bending of the toe tip at the DIP joint
Pain or irritation at the end of the toe or under the toenail
Corns or calluses on the tip of the toe from ground/shoe pressure
Thickened or damaged toenails due to repeated trauma
Redness or swelling at the DIP joint
Difficulty wearing shoes without pressure or rubbing
Stiffness or inability to straighten the toe (rigid mallet toe)
Diagnosis
At Foot Foundation, diagnosis includes:
Clinical examination – flexibility of the toe, presence of corns or calluses
Footwear review – assessing pressure points and shoe fit
Biomechanical analysis – gait and toe length pattern, bunion association
Imaging (if needed):
X-rays – assess deformity, arthritis, or underlying bone changes
Mallet Toes – FAQs
A mallet toe is a deformity where the end of the toe bends downward at the distal joint, causing the tip to press into the ground or shoe.
They are caused by footwear pressure, biomechanics, bunions, muscle imbalance, arthritis, or previous trauma.
- Mallet toe: affects the end joint (DIP)
- Hammer toe: affects the middle joint (PIP)
- Claw toe: affects both joints (PIP + DIP)
Yes. They often cause pain, corns, calluses, and nail changes due to pressure at the toe tip.
Flexible mallet toes can be managed with orthotics, footwear changes, padding, and exercises. Rigid deformities may require surgery if painful.
Yes. Orthotics redistribute load, reduce ground pressure on the toe tip, and improve biomechanics.
Shoes with a deep, wide toe box and cushioning are best. Avoid shallow or narrow shoes that press on the toe tip.
Yes. Corns and calluses caused by pressure can be managed with podiatry care, padding, and footwear changes.
Surgery is considered when:
- Pain is persistent despite conservative care
- Toe is rigid and causing chronic shoe pressure
- Corns/calluses or nail damage recur frequently
Yes. If underlying biomechanics or footwear are not addressed, recurrence is possible. Orthotics and shoe changes reduce the risk.
Why Choose Foot Foundation?
Foot Foundation provides specialist mallet toe care, combining podiatry, physiotherapy, and conservative treatments. We focus on orthotics, footwear modification, protective padding, and exercise therapy, with referral to orthopaedics where surgery is required.
With clinics in Rosedale, Takapuna, Remuera, Botany, Hamilton, and Tauranga, expert toe deformity care is available across New Zealand.
