Hammertoe: Is One of Your Toes Starting to Curl?

One of your toes doesn’t sit flat anymore.

Maybe you noticed it a while ago and figured it wasn’t a big deal. Now it’s catching on your socks. Your shoes rub in a spot they never used to. You’ve got a callus forming where the toe bends. And somewhere along the way, what seemed like a minor thing started affecting how you walk.

That’s a hammertoe. And the most important thing to know about it is this. The earlier you address it, the more options you have.

Dr. Jason Sweeley, DPM, treats hammertoes at Silver Spring Foot and Ankle in Mechanicsburg. Many patients find real relief without surgery. But the window for conservative treatment is only open while the toe is still flexible. Once it stiffens, the options change.

Get Relief Fast

Hammertoe pain affects every step. You shouldn’t have to wait weeks to find out what can be done about it.

At Silver Spring Foot and Ankle, we see most new patients within a few days, often even the next day. You’ll see Dr. Sweeley, get a clear picture of where your toe stands, and leave with a plan.

Ready to schedule an appointment? Call (717) 237-9000 or schedule online.

Quick Answers About Hammertoes

If you’d like some answers fast, start here.

Question	Answer
What is a hammertoe?	A hammertoe is a deformity where one of the smaller toes bends abnormally at the middle joint, creating a curled or claw-like appearance.
Do hammertoes get worse over time?	Yes. Without treatment, most hammertoes progress from flexible to rigid. Rigid hammertoes are significantly harder to treat.
Can a hammertoe be treated without surgery?	Flexible hammertoes often respond well to conservative care. Rigid hammertoes that no longer straighten typically require surgical correction.
What makes a hammertoe flexible or rigid?	A flexible hammertoe can still be straightened manually. A rigid hammertoe cannot. The distinction determines which treatments are appropriate.
Is a hammertoe related to a bunion?	They often occur together. A bunion pushes the big toe toward the second toe, which can force that toe into a bent position over time.
When should a hammertoe be evaluated?	Any time a toe is causing pain, rubbing against shoes, or visibly changing shape, an evaluation by a podiatrist is worthwhile. Earlier is always better.
How long does hammertoe surgery recovery take?	Recovery depends on the procedure and severity. Many patients return to normal footwear within several weeks, though complete healing takes longer.

What Is a Hammertoe?

A hammertoe is a deformity of one of the smaller toes, most commonly the second, third, or fourth. The toe bends abnormally at the middle joint, causing it to curl downward rather than lie flat. In more severe cases, multiple joints are affected, and the toe takes on a claw-like position.

The condition starts as a mechanical problem. Muscles and tendons that control the toe become imbalanced. The toe compensates by bending. At first, you can still push it flat. That’s a flexible hammertoe. Over time, if nothing changes, the joint stiffens, and the deformity becomes fixed. That’s a rigid hammertoe.

That transition from flexible to rigid is the critical window. Conservative treatment is effective during the flexible stage. Surgery becomes the primary option once the toe is rigid.

What Causes a Hammertoe?

Hammertoes develop from a combination of structural and mechanical factors. Several situations make them more likely.

Foot Structure and Genetics

Some people are born with foot mechanics that predispose them to hammertoes. Flat feet, high arches, and longer second toes all create conditions where certain muscles and tendons are under more stress than others. These imbalances accumulate over time.

Bunions

This connection surprises many patients. A bunion forces the big toe inward toward the second toe. That pressure pushes the second toe upward and out of alignment. Over time, that position becomes permanent. Patients who have bunions are significantly more likely to develop hammertoes on the adjacent toes.

Footwear

Shoes that are too short, too narrow, or have a pointed toe box force the toes into a bent position for hours at a time. Over years, that repeated stress reshapes the toe. High heels compound the problem by shifting weight forward onto the toes.

We see this frequently in patients who spend long hours on their feet at work. Nurses, teachers, and retail workers throughout the West Shore and Harrisburg area often notice hammertoe symptoms developing gradually over years of demanding footwear.

Arthritis and Injury

Inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis can weaken and destabilize toe joints over time. A toe injury that doesn’t heal properly can also alter the mechanics enough to start the process.

What a Hammertoe Feels Like

Symptoms vary depending on whether the hammertoe is flexible or rigid and how long it has been developing. Most patients notice some combination of these signs.

• A toe that bends or curls downward at the middle joint.
• Pain or pressure on top of the bent toe, especially inside shoes.
• A corn or callus forming where the toe rubs against footwear.
• Swelling or redness around the affected joint.
• Difficulty straightening the toe.
• Pain at the ball of the foot underneath the affected toe.
• Growing difficulty finding shoes that fit comfortably.

When Should You See a Foot Doctor About a Hammertoe?

The most common thing patients say when they come in is that they wish they’d come sooner. By the time hammertoe pain becomes significant, the toe has often already lost some flexibility.

Schedule an evaluation if any of these apply.

• A toe is visibly bent or curling and has been for a while.
• You have pain on top of a toe, at the ball of the foot, or inside your shoes.
• A corn or callus keeps coming back in the same spot.
• You’re having trouble finding shoes that don’t irritate the toe.
• The toe is getting stiffer, or the deformity appears to be worsening.
• You already have a bunion and are noticing changes in the adjacent toe.

A hammertoe that’s still flexible today may not be flexible in six months. An evaluation now means more options, less invasive treatment, and a faster path to relief.

How a Podiatrist Typically Treats Hammertoes

Treatment depends entirely on whether the hammertoe is flexible or rigid, and how much it’s affecting your daily life. Harrisburg podiatrist Dr. Jason Sweeley, DPM, evaluates both before making any recommendations.

Conservative Treatment for Flexible Hammertoes

If the toe can still be straightened, conservative treatment has a real chance of improving comfort and slowing or stopping the progression.

• Footwear changes. Shoes with a wide, deep toe box that don’t crowd or compress the toes.
• Padding and toe cushions. Protection over the bent joint reduces friction and pain from shoes.
• Stretching and strengthening exercises. Targeted exercises to restore balance between the muscles pulling on the toe.
• Splinting or buddy taping. Holds the toe in a straighter position during healing.
• Custom orthotics. Prescription custom inserts that correct the underlying foot mechanics driving the deformity.

Surgical Treatment for Rigid Hammertoes

When a hammertoe is rigid and causing significant pain or functional problems, surgery is usually the most effective path to lasting relief. The goal is to realign the toe, relieve pressure on the joint, and restore comfortable function.

Several surgical approaches exist depending on the severity and which joints are involved. Dr. Sweeley explains every option clearly before any decision is made. Recovery is typically straightforward, and most patients return to normal footwear within a few weeks.

Ready to make an appointment? Call (717) 237-9000 or schedule online.

Can You Prevent Hammertoes?

Not always. But the most common contributing factors are manageable.

• Wear shoes that fit properly. There should be enough room for your toes to lie flat. If they’re being pushed into a bent position, the shoe is too short or too narrow.
• Limit high heels. Or balance them with supportive footwear the rest of the time.
• Address bunions early. Treating a bunion before it pushes the adjacent toe out of alignment is one of the most effective ways to prevent hammertoe development.
• Consider custom orthotics. If you have flat feet, high arches, or a longer second toe, orthotics can correct the mechanics that lead to hammertoes before a deformity develops.
• Pay attention to early signs. A toe that’s starting to look different or feel uncomfortable is worth getting evaluated. Flexible hammertoes are far easier to treat than rigid ones.

“Hammertoes are one of those conditions where timing really matters. A flexible hammertoe offers us many options. A rigid one gives us fewer. Most patients who come in early are surprised by how manageable the treatment is. The ones who wait until it’s rigid almost always wish they’d come in sooner.”

Dr. Jason Sweeley, DPM, Podiatrist, Silver Spring Foot and Ankle