Common foot & ankle concerns we treat
- Pain that limits walking, standing, or sleep
- Stiffness, swelling, or reduced range of motion
- Sports injuries — acute or overuse
- Arthritis or post-traumatic joint changes
- Conditions other doctors couldn’t resolve
Foot & Ankle · Conditions A–Z
Claw Toe curled-under toes
Claw toe is a deformity where the toe bends upward at the joint nearest the foot and curls downward at the two joints farther out, so the tip points into the floor like a claw. Our board-certified foot and ankle specialists treat claw toe across eight Los Angeles offices, often with same-day visits for painful or rubbing toes and on-site imaging.
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Experts in foot & ankle care.
Surgical and non-surgical options at LAOSS.
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What sets LAOSS apart
- Same- or next-day appointments at eight Los Angeles–area offices
- On-site imaging; PT coordinated with your in-network provider
- Conservative-first care, surgery only when needed
- Board-certified specialists, not generalists
Key takeaways
- Claw toe bends the toe up at the base joint and curls it down at the two outer joints, often affecting several toes at once.
- It is frequently linked to nerve and muscle conditions, so we look at the whole foot and your overall health, not just the toe.
- Most people improve with conservative care: roomy shoes, toe padding, splinting, and stretching while the toe is still flexible.
- When a stiff, fixed toe causes pain or skin breakdown, outpatient surgery can straighten it; we always start with the least invasive option that fits.
Overview
What is claw toe?
Claw toe is a deformity of one or more of the lesser toes (the four toes next to the big toe). The toe pulls upward at the joint where it meets the foot and curls downward at both of the smaller joints out toward the tip, so the toe looks bent into a claw and the tip presses into the ground.\n\nClaw toe matters because the abnormal position changes how pressure spreads across your foot. Corns and calluses tend to form on top of the bent joints and on the tip of the toe, and the ball of the foot can take extra load. Because claw toe is often connected to nerve or muscle problems, the goal is not only to address the toe but to understand why it happened.\n\nThis page explains how claw toe looks and feels, what causes it, and how we treat it, starting with simple conservative measures and moving to surgery only when a stiff, painful toe needs it. We always begin with the least invasive option that fits your foot and your goals.
Patient education
Watch: Claw Toe
This is a common foot deformity. With it, one or more toes buckle and curl into a claw shape. Over time, a claw toe can become locked in this position. It can dig into the sole of your foot. You may have trouble finding comfortable shoes.
Animations licensed from ViewMedica · Swarm Interactive
Anatomy of the foot & ankle — tibia, talus, calcaneus, metatarsals, and the plantar fascia.
Anatomy
Inside the foot & ankle.
The foot and ankle have 26 bones, more than 30 joints, and over 100 ligaments and tendons. The plantar fascia spans the bottom of the foot, the Achilles tendon anchors the calf to the heel, and the ankle is a hinge that handles every step you take. Most foot and ankle problems trace back to overload, alignment, or footwear that doesn’t match the way your foot is built.
Self-orient
When claw toe shows up.
Symptoms
Common symptoms
- One or more toes bent upward at the base and curled downward at the outer two joints, so the tip points into the floor
- Corns or calluses on top of the bent joints and at the tip of the toe where it rubs or presses
- Pain in the ball of the foot, since claw toe shifts pressure forward
- Difficulty fitting into shoes, with the raised joints rubbing against the top of the shoe
- The toe may still straighten by hand early on (flexible) but becomes stiff and fixed over time (rigid)
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the foot when an underlying nerve condition is involved
Causes
Common causes
- Nerve and muscle conditions that unbalance the small muscles of the foot, such as peripheral neuropathy, diabetes, or Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
- Diabetes-related nerve damage, which is one of the most common drivers and also raises the risk of skin breakdown
- Inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, that damages the toe joints
- High-arched (cavus) feet, which often go hand in hand with clawing of the toes
- Tight or ill-fitting shoes, especially narrow or high-heeled styles that crowd the toes over time
- Prior foot or ankle trauma that disrupts the balance of tendons pulling on the toe
Diagnostics
How we diagnose claw toe
You want answers, fast — and we’re built to give them. Most patients leave their first LAOSS visit with a clear diagnosis and a written plan, not another referral chain.
Here’s what your initial visit for claw toe typically looks like:
- Detailed history — when it started, what makes it better or worse, what you’ve already tried
- Focused exam of the foot & ankle — range of motion, stability, strength, specific provocation tests
- On-site imaging at most offices: X-ray for bone, ultrasound or MRI when soft-tissue detail is needed
- A written plan with options ranging from conservative care to surgical procedures, in plain English
Schedule your evaluation with a trusted Greater Los Angeles orthopedic expert today.
Treatment options
How we treat claw toe at LAOSS
Once we’ve confirmed the diagnosis, the next step is matching the right treatment to your situation. We start with the least-invasive option that fits — and escalate only when it doesn’t.
Conservative care
Step 1Conservative care first
Non-surgical options designed to relieve pain, restore movement, and avoid the OR when possible.
- Roomy, deep shoes with a wide, tall toe box to take pressure off the bent joints
- Toe pads, crest pads, or silicone sleeves to cushion corns and relieve rubbing
- Splinting or taping to hold a still-flexible toe in a straighter position
- Toe stretching and strengthening exercises, including towel-curl and toe-extension movements, while the toe remains flexible
- Custom orthotics or metatarsal pads to redistribute pressure off the ball of the foot
- Careful corn and callus care, plus diligent diabetic foot checks when neuropathy is present
Surgical care
When neededSurgical options when needed
Procedures performed by board-certified foot & ankle surgeons when conservative care isn’t enough.
- Flexor tendon transfer or flexor tenotomy to rebalance the tendons pulling a flexible toe out of position
- Soft-tissue release of tight tendons and joint capsules to allow the toe to straighten
- PIP joint arthroplasty (removing a small amount of bone) to correct a stiff, fixed claw toe
- Joint fusion of the affected toe joint to hold a rigid, painful toe in a corrected, stable position
- Temporary pin or internal implant to hold the corrected toe while it heals
- Combined correction of an underlying high arch or related deformity when that is driving the clawing
Surgeon expertise
Why experience matters.
Why experience matters
Foot & Ankle care is highly technique-dependent. Volume, training, and judgment together determine the outcome you actually feel six months later.
- Precise diagnosis from imaging and exam
- Conservative-first care that avoids unnecessary surgery
- Surgical technique refined over thousands of cases
- On-site imaging + coordinated PT through your in-network provider
The LAOSS approach
Our foot & ankle specialists move stepwise — start with the least-invasive option that fits your situation, escalate only when it doesn't.
- Same-day imaging at most offices
- PT coordinated in your insurance network
- Board-certified surgeons performing the procedures themselves
- Direct access to your specialist between visits
Candidacy
Am I a candidate?
If most of these match your situation, an evaluation with a foot & ankle specialist is the next step.
You may be
You may be a candidate if
These signs typically point toward an in-person evaluation with a foot & ankle specialist.
- Your toe still straightens when you push on it, and you want to act while conservative care can still hold it in place
- You have corns, calluses, or open spots from the toe rubbing inside your shoes
- Pain in the ball of your foot or on top of the toe is limiting your walking or shoe choices
- You have diabetes or a known nerve condition and want a specialist watching the toe for skin breakdown
- Splinting, padding, and shoe changes have not relieved a stiff toe that now stays bent on its own
Evaluation
What evaluation includes
Your first visit is built to give you an answer the same day, not just another referral.
- Detailed history — onset, mechanism, what makes it better or worse
- Hands-on exam focused on the affected joint or region
- On-site imaging at most offices (X-ray, ultrasound)
- Clear plan with options ranging from conservative to surgical
- Same-day or next-day scheduling for any follow-up tests
ImportantSeek urgent evaluation for sudden severe pain, an open wound or exposed bone, foot or ankle deformity after trauma, loss of sensation, or any sign of infection (fever, spreading redness, or swelling).
Recovery
Your foot & ankle recovery roadmap.
Recovery is rarely a straight line — but a clear plan with measurable milestones makes the path predictable.
01Days 0–14
Right after care
In the first two weeks we focus on protecting the foot & ankle, calming inflammation, and restoring basic motion.
- Activity modification with clear do/don’t guidance
- Ice, elevation, and pain control as needed
- Gentle range-of-motion within safe limits
- Follow-up scheduled to track healing
02Weeks 2–8
Rehabilitation
Targeted physical therapy rebuilds strength, mobility, and confidence in the foot & ankle.
- Progressive strengthening and neuromuscular work
- Manual therapy and soft-tissue treatment
- Sport- or job-specific movement re-training
- Coordinated PT through your in-network provider
03Months 2+
Long-term care
Once function is restored, the focus shifts to keeping you there — and catching any recurrence early.
- Return-to-activity plan with measured benchmarks
- Home program tailored to your sport or job
- Maintenance visits or imaging if symptoms change
- Direct line back to your specialist if needed
Risks & considerations
What to weigh before you decide.
We talk through the risks and benefits with every patient — informed consent is a conversation, not a form.
General
General considerations
Every orthopedic intervention carries a small set of standard risks. We screen, prepare, and monitor for these on every patient.
- Infection (rare with modern technique and prophylaxis)
- Bleeding or bruising at the treatment site
- Reaction to anesthesia or medications
- Need for additional procedures in some cases
Specific
Foot & Ankle-specific considerations
Some risks are tied to the structures we're treating in the foot & ankle. We discuss these in detail at your visit so you can weigh them against the benefits.
- Temporary stiffness or weakness during recovery
- Incomplete pain relief in a small percentage of cases
- Nerve or vessel irritation near the treatment area
- Need for follow-up therapy to fully restore function
Your care team
Meet our foot & ankle doctors in the Greater Los Angeles area
At LAOSS, our foot & ankle specialists combine advanced surgical expertise with a patient-first approach. From minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to reconstruction, fracture care, and arthritis management, our physicians bring decades of experience to every case. Trusted across Los Angeles, our team is dedicated to restoring mobility, relieving pain, and helping you return to the activities you love.
Specialists
Meet your foot & ankle specialists.
4 providers
About this care
Claw toe care across Los Angeles
At LAOSS, claw toe is one of the lesser-toe deformities we see most often, and we treat it the same way we would want our own family treated: honestly and conservatively first. Many people are relieved to learn that a flexible claw toe can often be managed well with the right shoes, padding, and a simple home program, and that surgery is reserved for stiff, painful toes that no longer respond.\n\nBecause claw toe is so often tied to a nerve or muscle condition, our board-certified foot and ankle specialists look at your whole foot and your overall health, not just the bent toe. With eight offices around Los Angeles, on-site imaging, and same-day appointments for painful or rubbing toes, we can get you evaluated quickly and build a plan that fits your feet and your life.
Patient reviews
What patients say about us.
★★★★★4.97,500+ Google reviews
Wonderful staff. The MA was so kind to my elderly mom and the doctor explained everything twice so she’d remember. Felt like we were treated like family.
Patricia Aguilar
Cerritos, CA · 6 January 2025
FAQ
Common claw toe questions
- A hammertoe bends mainly at the middle joint of the toe, while a claw toe bends up at the base joint and curls down at both of the outer joints, so the tip points into the floor. Claw toe also tends to affect several toes at once and is more often linked to nerve or muscle conditions.
- Often yes, especially while the toe is still flexible and can be straightened by hand. Roomy shoes, toe padding, splinting, and stretching can relieve symptoms and slow progression, though they will not reverse a toe that has already become stiff and fixed.
- Claw toe usually comes from an imbalance in the small muscles of the foot, which is why it commonly affects several toes together. That imbalance is frequently driven by an underlying nerve or muscle condition, so we check for things like neuropathy, diabetes, or a high-arched foot type.
- Yes, claw toe correction is typically an outpatient procedure, so you go home the same day. Recovery depends on what was done, from soft-tissue rebalancing to joint correction, and we walk you through the expected timeline and shoe restrictions at your visit.
Ready when you are
Don’t wait on pain.
Book a visit with a foot & ankle specialist at any of our eight Los Angeles–area offices.
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21 specialists · 8 offices
Greater Los Angeles
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