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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Second toe longer than big toe

129 replies

LiIo · 29/05/2022 20:24

Not an AIBU but wanted to see poll results plus it’s a Sunday evening and I’m bored…

My second toe is notably longer than my big toe.

It’s called a Morton’s toe its recorded prevalence varies in different populations, with estimates from 2.95% to 22%.

Doesn’t really bother me but none of my friends have it so was wondering if any MNers have it. I seem to have inherited it from my father and apparently it is more common in men.

It is supposedly associated with naturally athletic people, which fits with me but definitely not my father!

So, is your second toe longer than your big toe? (YABU - No, YANBU - Yes).

OP posts:
1000yellowdaisies · 29/05/2022 20:47

Yes on both feet and in fact my second toe is so long its bent at the top to align with my other toes. Had sugery on my toes as a kid my feet are absolutely horrendous i never wear sandals. I just hope my kids dont inherit their mums trotters :)

decentchap · 29/05/2022 20:50

A longer second toe may be a sign of athleticism but more realistically, it is a sign of intelligence, certainly in women.
So if you arent athletic then take comfort from the fact that you will be above average intelligence. That's true for women but not necessarily for men.

SlatsandFlaps · 29/05/2022 20:50

As this is a poll, I'll answer this by saying nope, my toes slope downwards from my big toe

SlatsandFlaps · 29/05/2022 20:51

decentchap · 29/05/2022 20:50

A longer second toe may be a sign of athleticism but more realistically, it is a sign of intelligence, certainly in women.
So if you arent athletic then take comfort from the fact that you will be above average intelligence. That's true for women but not necessarily for men.

Source?

TheDogsMother · 29/05/2022 20:53

Mine go down from biggest to smallest. I read years ago that in Neanderthal times there were two branches of humans before we all merged into one. The different toe types was and indicator of each type. No idea if that is factual.

CPL593H · 29/05/2022 20:55

Yes, both feet. I've always been able to pick things up (pencils etc) with my toes. I once read (no idea if its true) that this means you have more of a genetic connection with what I like to call 'our early ancestors'. Grin

pizzaand · 29/05/2022 20:58

I don't but dp and the eldest dc all have a hammer toe on both sides, smallest has one on the left.

coffeecupsandfairylights · 29/05/2022 20:59

Yes, on both feet and the ends of both those toes are permanently bent and I can't straighten either of them.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 29/05/2022 21:00

Yes me too. And I'm a runner so it fits for me 😁

Chakraleaf · 29/05/2022 21:00

Nope

BestIsWest · 29/05/2022 21:00

I think I read years ago about the Celtic foot (short and wide, longer big toe) vs the Roman foot (long and narrow, long second toe). DH and DD have the former, me and DS the latter.

Winterofdiscontent22 · 29/05/2022 21:01

Mine are- I always thought it meant you were clever😀. Was vaguely athletic in my youth- definitely no longer…

Edderkop · 29/05/2022 21:01

I wonder in the athleticism is because trainers actually fit them properly! I spent ages researching foot shapes and trainers in lock down trying to buy running shoes. My big toe is significantly longer than my second toe, if shoes are long enough for my big toe I have acres of space above the rest.

It's funny that you don't notice just how variable hands and feet are. I was definitely a teenager before I realised that some people have index fingers that are longer than their ring fingers.

Staynow · 29/05/2022 21:01

My Oh has this. I haven't found anything to suggest it making you more athletic but it can cause a lot of problems.
www.physio-pedia.com/Morton%27s_Toe

KhaleesiOfChaos · 29/05/2022 21:02

My second toe is longer on both feet, but sadly I'm not in the slightest bit athletic! I'm the only one in my nuclear family of 5 who has it.

vjg13 · 29/05/2022 21:03

Yes me too, both feet

peterpiperpickedapiece · 29/05/2022 21:04

My second toes are longer than my big toes

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 29/05/2022 21:04

Nope. Feet and toes really freak me out and the second toe being longer than the big toe really heightens that for me. Very squeamish!

CaptainMyCaptain · 29/05/2022 21:05

CPL593H · 29/05/2022 20:55

Yes, both feet. I've always been able to pick things up (pencils etc) with my toes. I once read (no idea if its true) that this means you have more of a genetic connection with what I like to call 'our early ancestors'. Grin

I can do that too.

megletthesecond · 29/05/2022 21:05

15yr old DS has this. It's an utterly nightmare when buying shoes.

Piggywaspushed · 29/05/2022 21:05

Mine are , and I was also born with 11 toes, so freak feet all round for me.

I can never get shoes to fit.

LakieLady · 29/05/2022 21:06

On my left foot only, my right foot is completely different and they look like they belong to completely different people.

And I'm not the least bit athletic.

EmpressoftheMundane · 29/05/2022 21:08

I do not have a longer second toe.

We had family friends when I was a kid growing up in the 80s, who owned a chain of shoe stores. They looked for foot models who had a longer second toe. It was apparently a sign of nobility!

Octomingo · 29/05/2022 21:08

I have it. I run, but I'm not athletic. It makes pointy shoes hard to wear. I have hypermobile feet too.
I read it was a Roman toe.dh and dd have it too.