Hammertoes are a common foot condition that occurs when the muscles and ligaments around your toe joint become imbalanced, causing the middle joint of your toe to buckle and become stuck in a bent position. This condition most often affects the middle three toes and can also cause the baby toes to curl.
There are two types of hammertoes:
Flexible hammertoes: If you can still move your toe at the joint, it's considered a flexible hammertoe. This is a milder form of the condition and may have several treatment options.
Rigid hammertoes: When the tendons in your toe become rigid, they press the joint out of alignment, and you can no longer move your toe. This usually indicates that surgery is necessary.
The primary symptom of hammertoes is a toe or toes that appear bent upward in the middle. Other symptoms may include:
Blisters and calluses from toes rubbing against the top of your shoes
Pain in the toe joint where it meets your foot
Pain when walking
Stiffness in the bent toes that worsens over time
Hammertoes develop when the muscles of each toe, which work in pairs, become imbalanced. This imbalance puts excessive pressure on the toe's tendons and joints, forcing the toe into a hammerhead shape. Some common causes and risk factors include:
Ill-fitting shoes, particularly tight, short, or pointy shoes
Arthritis
Certain neurological conditions, such as Charcot-Tooth-Marie disease, spinal cord tumors, or polio
High arches
Inward-rotating feet when walking
Bunions
Flat feet
Genetic predisposition
Longer second toe compared to the first
Being female (due to the types of shoes often worn)
People with diabetes or poor circulation are at a higher risk of complications from hammertoes, such as infections and foot ulcers. Custom orthopedic shoes may help prevent these complications, and individuals with these conditions should seek medical attention at the first sign of foot trouble.
A doctor can usually diagnose hammertoes by closely examining your feet and asking about your symptoms. In some cases, an X-ray may be necessary to obtain more detailed information about your foot and toe joints or bones.
Treatment for hammertoes depends on the severity of the condition. Non-surgical options to relieve symptoms may include:
Wearing roomier shoes that extend at least a half-inch past your toes
Using inserts or pads in your shoes to reposition your toes and relieve pain
Performing special exercises to stretch and strengthen your toes
Taping or splinting your toe to straighten it
Applying ice packs to reduce pain and swelling
Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to help with pain and swelling
Receiving steroid injections in severely swollen or painful toe joints
In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to correct hammertoes. This may be an option if your pain is severe, your toe is very rigid, or you have an open sore due to the hammertoe. Surgical options include:
Arthroplasty: Removing half of the joint under each crooked toe to allow it to lie flat
Arthrodesis: Removing the entire joint under your crooked toes and inserting a wire to help it straighten as it heals
Tendon transfer: Attaching tendons under your toe to the top of your toe to help it straighten out
Basal phalangectomy: Removing the base of the bone under your hammertoe
Weil osteotomy: Shortening certain bones in your foot and inserting screws to hold them in place
If you suspect you have hammertoes, consult your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan. Early intervention can help prevent the condition from worsening and reduce the need for surgical correction.
For more information on hammertoes and foot health, visit:
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