Hammer Toe
Hammertoe is a foot deformity that occurs most often in women who wear high heels or shoes with a narrow toe box. These types of footwear may force your toes against the front of the shoe, causing an unnatural bending.
A hammertoe has an abnormal bend in the middle joint of a toe. Hammertoe is most likely to occur in the toe next to your big toe.
Causes
A hammertoe has an abnormal bend in the middle joint of a toe. Hammertoe is most likely to occur in the toe next to your big toe.
Causes
- Certain shoes. High-heeled shoes or footwear that's too tight in the toe box can crowd your toes into a space that's not large enough for them to lie flat. This curled toe position may eventually persist even when you're barefoot.
- Trauma. An injury in which you stub, jam, or break a toe may make it more likely for that digit to develop a hammertoe or mallet toe.
- Nerve injuries or disorders. Hammertoe and mallet toe are more common in people who have nerve damage in their feet, which often occurs with such medical problems as a stroke or diabetes.
