P5140115

Hammer Toe

Hammer łoe can be a congcnital abnormality or it can be caused by improper fitting footware. The most common Iocation for a hammer toe is the second or third toe, if morę than one łoe is involved it is generałly refered to as clawed tocs. It mani/ests itself as over!y tightened flexor tendon and ovcr-słretched extensor tendons.

The Kincsio Taping Techniaue will assist by reducing edema, pain and limit flexion of the phalanx.

Application of the functiona! correction technique to limit distal phalanx flexion. For review see functional correction technique.

Bogiń by measuring a Kinesio I strip front the plantar surface of the distal tip, over the toe nail and continuing to the metatarsal phaiangeal (MTP) joint of the hammer toe.

Place one end of the Kinesio I strip on the plantar surface of the injured joint and wrap around to the tip of the dorsal surface of the hammer toe, with no tension.

With one hand hołd the base which has been applied to the distal phalanx tip, to ensure no tension will be added.

Place the patients toe into as much extension as possible. Apply severe to fuli, 75-100% of ayąilable tension to the Kinesio I Strip, laying down the Kinesio I Strip on the dorsum surface of the hammer toe. Apply tension until the Kinesio I strip is ap-proximately 1" below the MTP joint.

Lay down the remaining approximately 1" with no tension.

A second functional correction strip may be applied depending upon the size of the individual and the amount of toe movement limitation desired.

Apply an anchor at both the tip of the hammer toe and as dose to the MTP joint as possible. This will assist in providing better support and limit Kinesio Tape from coming off the skin due to the high tension used during application.

Dislocation of Toe

Dislocated phalanges are a common injury to physically active patients. Although they are not common inl omparison to overall injuries which result from being physically activc, they are generally very painful and _ew> treatment options currently exist.

Anytime a dislocation occnrs it is important to refer the patient to a physician to evaluatc the injury.

The Kinesio technique will provide pain relief, reduce inflammation by use of lymphatic correction, irovide joint stability with ligament correction, and use a functional correction to limit flexion or extension.

The practitioner may aid in their patients comfort by recommending a stiff soled shoe or boot to minimize orefoot movement.

Apply a lymphatic correction technique to the dorsal surface, plantar surface or both. For complete review see lymphatic correction.

The lymphatic correction should form a criss cross pattem over the area of specific patient pain or area of greatest joint effusion.

Apply a ligament correction technique to the region in which the dislocation or fractured region is located. For complete review see ligament correction.

If the dislocation was dorsal, apply the ligament correction, using severe to fuli tension, on the dorsal aspect of the toe. If the dislocation caused laxity to either the mediał or lateral ligaments of the toe, apply the correction strip to these regions in a criss cross pattem.

For a morę complete description see dislocation of finger.

Photo on left is an application of a functional correction to limit toe flexion. For complete review see functional correction.

Photo on right is an example of a completed Kinesio Techniąue for a dislocated toe.

The practitioner may select to modify the techniąue by adding a buddy taping techniąue. For complete review see finger dislocation.

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