Morton’s toe is a common foot structure where the second toe is longer than the first (big) toe. As it affects weight distribution, some people may experience pain. Home treatments can help.
Morton’s toe, also known as Morton’s foot syndrome, describes the condition where the second toe looks longer than the big toe. It’s very common: Some people just have it and others don’t.
In some people, Morton’s toe may increase the chances of calluses forming on the sole of your foot and some other foot pains.
While the names sound similar, Morton’s toe is not the same as the condition Morton’s neuroma.
Read on to learn more about Morton’s toe, including related pain, treatment options, and more.
You can tell if you have Morton’s toe just by looking at your foot. Morton’s toe causes the second toe to project out farther than the big toe.
In people with Morton’s toe, the first metatarsal is shorter compared to the second metatarsal. This is what makes your second toe look longer than the first.
Your metatarsals are the long bones that connect your toes to the back of your foot. They curve upward to form the arch of your foot. Your first metatarsal is the thickest.
Having a shorter first metatarsal may cause more weight to be put on the thinner second metatarsal bone.
It’s also common. It could occur in up to 30% of people, though the exact number of people with Morton’s toe is unclear.
Morton’s toe is hereditary, like most features of your bone structure.
Since Morton’s toe is connected with the structure of the foot, some people who have Morton’s toe eventually get aches and pains in their foot.
The pain is associated with how weight is distributed across your foot, especially on the first and second metatarsals.
If you experience pain due to Morton’s toe, your doctor may first try placing a pad under your big toe and first metatarsal. This will increase the weight bearing on the big toe and where it connects to the first metatarsal.
Over-the-counter pain relief medications can also help with managing toe pain.
If pain persists, your doctor may recommend surgery. This can involve removing a small part of bone from either one or two joints to shorten the length of the second toe.
Following some general tips to care for your feet may help reduce the likelihood of pain. These include:
- wearing comfortable footwear with a wide toe area and soft sole
- avoiding wearing shoes with pointy toe areas
- performing gentle stretching exercises
- avoiding standing for long periods of time
- resting the feet when possible
Speak with a doctor for more advice on ways to take care of your feet. The doctor can also recommend specific foot exercises that may help.
Morton’s toe can result in numerous complications, such as:
- increased risk of stress fractures in the second metatarsal
- increased risk of diabetic ulcers in the second metatarsal
- displacement of bones in the big toe
- overpronation
- metatarsalgia
Speak with a doctor for advice about remedies and treatments that may help reduce the risk of complications.
Morton’s toe isn’t the same as Morton’s neuroma, also called Morton’s metatarsalgia. In fact, the two conditions are named after two different people.
Morton’s toe is named after the orthopedist Dudley Joy Morton. He first referred to the condition as “metatarsus atavicu” in 1927.
Morton’s neuroma is named after the physician Thomas George Morton, who first wrote about the condition in 1876.
Morton’s neuroma is a painful condition affecting the ball of the foot. The pain comes from thickening of the tissue around a nerve.
Morton’s toe is a foot shape where the second toe looks longer than the first (big) toe.
It may cause pain in some people. Conservative treatments may resolve pain. These can include using a flexible pad beneath the toes, taking pain relief medication, and wearing more comfortable footwear.
In very severe cases, doctors may recommend toe shortening surgery. Surgery to lengthen the first toe with an implant may also be an option.