Hammertoes Treatment

What Is A Hammertoe?

A “hammertoe” is the common term for when one of the four “little” toes on either foot takes on a contracted and bent position at the middle joint during rest. This most commonly occurs in the second toe.

A similar condition, known as “mallet toe,” occurs when the bend is found at the joint closest to the tip of the toe.

In the early stages, the joint may remain flexible. It will still be simple to push the toe back into a proper position. You might not have any noticeable pain or other symptoms getting in the way of your daily life.

As the condition progresses, however, the joint can become more rigid and stiff. It can begin to cause more pain, make wearing shoes more problematic, and lead to calluses or sores where the top of your toe rubs against the inside of your footwear.

What Causes a Hammertoe?

The typical cause of a hammertoe is an imbalance in the muscle and tendon pairs that control the toe. 

Under standard conditions, muscles and tendons are balanced, letting you bend and flex your toe normally. But should one set become “stronger” than another, they can start pulling the toe into a flexed position. The “weaker” pair will be unable to bring it back into a standard resting position.

Muscle and tendon pairs can become imbalanced for several reasons:

• An inherited imbalance in foot shape or structure. Certain foot structures, such as having a second toe longer than the big toe, can increase one’s risk of hammertoes. You might also have a foot shape or gait that naturally shifts excess pressure to the front of your foot, increasing the chances for instability.
• Improper footwear choices. Shoes with small or tight toe boxes that compress the toes might contribute to instability. So can high heels and other footwear that shifts your body weight toward the front of the feet.
• Trauma. Jamming, stubbing, and other impact injuries to the toes can sometimes be enough to begin destabilizing a joint. A hammertoe may not appear until years later.