How hammertoe treatment changes walking and foot pressure
Official title: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Treatments on Gait Biomechanics in Patients With Hammertoe Deformities
Run by University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · NCT07166016 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether conservative or surgical treatments for people with hammertoes change foot pressure during walking and improve symptoms and quality of life.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Harlingen, Texas) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | November 10, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07166016 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults who have confirmed hammertoe deformities (claw or hammer toe) with MTPJ hyperextension and distal symmetric sensory neuropathy, can walk unaided, and do not have active foot ulcers are the ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People with non-hammertoe foot deformities, peripheral vascular disease, active foot ulcers or edema, significant lower-limb musculoskeletal problems, inability to walk unaided, or prior foot surgery are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Hammertoe deformities can cause pain, altered gait, and increased plantar pressure that may raise the risk of foot ulcers. Participants with hammertoes will undergo either conservative care or surgical correction as determined by their clinician and will have gait and plantar pressure measured before treatment and three months after. The study compares peak plantar pressures and walking parameters between pre- and post-treatment visits to see whether interventions reduce forefoot loading and symptoms. Results aim to guide clinicians on which approaches best lower pressure and potentially prevent ulceration.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could show which treatments best lower forefoot pressure, reduce pain, and help prevent foot ulcers in people with hammertoes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior reports indicate surgical correction can reduce plantar pressures and pain in hammertoe patients, but direct comparisons with conservative care are limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Confirmed distal symmetric sensory neuropathy. * MTPJ hyperextension deformity. * Claw or hammer toe deformity in toes. Exclusion Criteria: * Non-hammertoe foot deformities affecting metatarsal head pressure. * Limited joint mobility, lower-limb amputation, or Charcot neuro-osteoarthropathy. * Peripheral vascular disease * Non-diabetic neuropathies * Significant lower-limb musculoskeletal issues * Rheumatoid arthritis * Current foot ulcer or edema * Inability to walk unaided * MRI contraindications * Morton's neuroma * History of foot surgery
Where it's running
-
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Harlingen, Texas, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Hafizur Rahman, PhD
- Email: hafizur.rahman@utrgv.edu
- Phone: 956-296-2035
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.