Types, Causes and Symptoms of Hammer Toe

Types of Hammer Toe

Flexible Hammer Toe

Flexible Hammer Toe is the condition in which toe can be corrected by manual stretching. It means the initial stage of Hammer Toe at which the toe joint can be moved and corrected using toe care products.

Rigid Hammer Toe

Toe cannot be moved straight (or) stretched easily as like that of flexible hammer toe. Rigid hammer toe is the stage at which toe joint is firm without mobility. It causes severe pain and your toe movement is also restricted.

Rigid hammer toe can be effectively cured with a simple surgery.

Causes

• Muscular imbalance: When the toe is at bent position for a long time, the muscles are tightened causing toe to become rigid.
• Hereditary factors and natural mechanical structure of feet like high-arched foot, flat foot.
• Due to the bunion pain, big toe slants over adjacent toes developing pressure. This causes the toe to bend creating a hook like position downwards.
• High heels and tight-fitting shoes.
• Corn on the top of toe and callus on the bottom of feet. This creates pain and pressure making the toe to bend.

Symptoms

• Irritation on the top of toes when toes rub front part of shoes during foot movements.
• Repeated contracts, pain, stiffness on toes and feet by the improper function of tendons in the foot.
• Development of corn at the end/tip of toe due to deformed state, mallet toe.
• Infected corn and ulcers creating pain over top of the toe.
• Hardening of skin over the toe by the pressure of footwear.