Making Sense of Your Changing Digits—What Is a Hammer Toe? - Magnolia Regional Health Center

By A Mystery Man Writer

If you’ve noticed one or more toes on your foot have become deformed, it could be a condition doctors call hammer toe. But what is a hammer toe and how is it treated?
A hammer toe, sometimes referenced as hammertoe, gets its name from the appearance of the affected toe, which bends in such a way that it resembles a hammer. This type of deformity affects the second, third or fourth toes. When a person has this condition, the toe is bent at the middle joint (the proximal interphalangeal joint), which causes it to look like a hammer. In some cases, a person who has a hammer toe may also develop other issues with their feet, as the deformed toe rubs awkwardly against shoes and other objects. Corns and calluses are common.