Hammer toe, although sometimes unnoticeable, is a painful and difficult to treat if the deformity is not treated quickly enough. Hammer toe is when the second third or fourth toe bends at the far knuckle, causing the toe to resemble a hammer.

When shoes are worn that do not fit properly, the toes can be forced into a hammer toe position. Excessively high heels or shoes that are too small may cause hammer toe if worn often enough. To receive hammer toe treatment, one needs to be properly diagnosed first, so a digital x-ray or another similar test is needed in conjunction with a physical examination. (more…)