Hammertoes are a condition where the toes draw up and the knuckles become prominent.
For many people with hammertoes, even a thin insole or orthotic can raise the toes up to the point where the toes rub and become raw against the inside toe box of the shoe.
This pair of Superfeet full length insoles are only 1/8″ thick under the toes, but even this slight elevation is enough to cause pressure in an already crowded toe box.
The solution? Trim the insoles to just beyond the ball of the foot, or just below the toes. Shortening the insole topcover length will provide the arch support without cramping the toes.
Dr. Jenny Sanders Shoe Blog 
Dr. Sanders
I appreciate your comments on the sulcus cut of the full-length orthotics. This option is often overlooked. And in most applications it works very well.
Regarding the hammer toes one of the biggest challenges we have is reminding the consumers and patients to remove their full-length factory insole, so that when they put the Superfeet in the shoe it does not sit on top of the factory insole which would make the shoe too tight on top of the toes.
Another adjustment option than is available is to grind the distal edge on the bottom of the device to a very thin taper. With a small bench grinder it’s very easy to customize the volume of the forefoot area to accommodate the toe volume in the shoe.
It is also important to look at flex patterns of the toe box on the shoes so we don’t get any added pressure on the top of the feet.
Thank you for your comments and recommendations.
Sincerely,
Jeff Gray
Hello. I’m glad to hear that trimming the insoles may help with the pain I’ve been having on the top of my foot, which as best I can tell is a result of putting the Greens in some tight-fitting sneakers.
I’m worried, though: I know insoles slip pretty easily, so how would I avoid this with an insole that takes up only part of the shoe?
Thanks for the help. I’m reluctant to saw these $40 insoles in half before knowing whether slipping could be a problem.
–James
Trimming the insoles generally works best when the shoes rub on the top of the toes. Fortunately, shortening the insole length does not cause slipping as your body weight will seat the modified insoles in place. Top of the foot pain can best be addressed by modifying the lacing https://drshoe.wordpress.com/2008/02/03/top-of-the-foot-bump/.
-Dr. Sanders