What Are Hammertoes?
A hammertoe is a toe deformity where one or more toes bend abnormally at the joint, often creating a curled or contracted appearance. Hammertoes most commonly affect the smaller toes and may start flexible before becoming more rigid over time.
Patients may notice pain, rubbing in shoes, corns, calluses, redness, swelling, difficulty finding comfortable footwear, or pressure on the tip or top of the toe. At Foot & Ankle Specialists in West Jordan, Dr. Trevor R. Williams evaluates hammertoes to determine how the deformity is affecting comfort, walking, and shoe fit.
What Causes Hammertoes?
Hammertoes often develop from muscle and tendon imbalance around the toe joints. They may be related to inherited foot structure, flat feet, high arches, bunions, arthritis, diabetes, nerve conditions, previous injury, or shoes that crowd the toes.
When the toes are forced into a bent position repeatedly, the joints and soft tissues may tighten. Over time, a flexible hammertoe can become more fixed, making it harder to straighten the toe manually.
How Dr. Williams Evaluates Hammertoes
Evaluation includes checking toe flexibility, joint position, areas of shoe pressure, corns, calluses, skin irritation, pain level, foot structure, and whether the hammertoe is affecting balance or walking. X-rays may be used to assess the joints and bone alignment.
A careful exam helps determine whether conservative care is likely to help or whether a more advanced treatment plan should be discussed.
Treatment for Hammertoe Pain
Mild or flexible hammertoes may improve with roomier shoes, padding, toe sleeves, callus care, custom orthotics, stretching, footwear changes, and reducing pressure on the affected toe. These treatments can help improve comfort and slow irritation.
More rigid, painful, or progressive hammertoes may require surgical discussion, especially when the toe causes repeated wounds, severe shoe difficulty, or persistent pain despite conservative treatment.
Why Early Care Matters
Hammertoes can worsen gradually. Early evaluation may help reduce pressure, protect the skin, and make it easier to manage symptoms before the toe becomes more rigid or painful.
Why Choose Foot & Ankle Specialists?
Dr. Williams helps patients understand why the hammertoe developed and what treatment options fit their condition. Foot & Ankle Specialists focuses on improving comfort, protecting the skin, and helping patients walk and wear shoes with less pain.