Hammer Toes Explained: What Causes Them, How to Treat Them, and When to Acto

Do your toes look permanently bent or curled downward? Are you dealing with a painful corn on top of a toe, or struggling to find shoes that fit comfortably? You may be dealing with a hammer toe — and the longer you wait, the harder it becomes to treat without surgery. In this video, Dr. Drew Taft of Foot & Ankle Associates of Southern New Hampshire explains exactly what hammer toes are, what causes them, how to tell if yours is still treatable without surgery, and all the treatment options available — from simple shoe changes to injections to surgical correction. 📞 Call us: 603-432-2508 🌐 www.footandanklesnh.com 📍 Foot & Ankle Associates of Southern New Hampshire — Derry, NH 🕐 CHAPTERS 0:00 — Are Your Toes Bent or Curled? Don't Ignore This 0:30 — About Dr. Drew Taft & Foot & Ankle Associates of Southern NH 1:15 — Like, Subscribe & Share 1:30 — What Is a Hammer Toe? 2:15 — Flexible vs. Rigid Hammer Toe — Why It Matters 3:00 — What Causes Hammer Toes? 3:20 — The Role of Footwear 3:45 — Muscle Imbalance Explained 4:10 — The Bunion-Hammer Toe Connection 4:40 — Flat Feet, High Arches & Genetics 5:00 — Symptoms: Corns, Calluses, Pain & Overlapping Toes 6:30 — How We Diagnose Hammer Toes 7:30 — Treatment Options 7:35 — Footwear Changes 7:55 — Padding & Corn Treatment 8:20 — Custom Orthotics 8:45 — Splinting & Toe Straighteners 9:10 — Stretching & Physical Therapy 9:35 — Cortisone & Amniotic Injections 10:05 — When Is Surgery Necessary? 10:30 — When Should You See a Podiatrist? 11:15 — Schedule an Appointment ❓ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is a hammer toe? A hammer toe is a deformity of the middle joint of one of the smaller toes — most commonly the second, third, or fourth — where the toe becomes permanently bent downward in a claw-like position. It is caused by a muscle and tendon imbalance that pulls the toe out of its normal alignment. What is the difference between a flexible and rigid hammer toe? A flexible hammer toe can still be straightened manually with your finger — the joint is still mobile. This is the earlier stage and responds well to conservative treatment. A rigid hammer toe has become fixed in the bent position and can no longer be straightened without surgery. This is why early treatment is so important. What causes hammer toes? Hammer toes are most commonly caused by tight or narrow footwear, muscle imbalance in the foot, bunions pushing the second toe out of alignment, flat feet or high arches, previous foot injuries, and genetics. In most cases, it is a combination of more than one factor. Can hammer toes be treated without surgery? Yes — if caught early while the toe is still flexible, hammer toes can often be managed effectively with shoe changes, custom orthotics, padding, splinting, stretching exercises, and injections. Surgery is generally reserved for rigid hammer toes or cases where conservative care is no longer providing relief. Do cortisone or amniotic injections help hammer toes? Cortisone injections can quickly reduce inflammation and pain in the joint. Amniotic injections use regenerative tissue to address joint damage and can provide longer-lasting relief, particularly in patients with more advanced joint involvement. Neither injection corrects the structural deformity, but both can significantly improve comfort and quality of life. When should I see a podiatrist for a hammer toe? The ideal time to come in is as soon as you notice a toe starting to bend — even before it becomes painful. At the flexible stage, you have the most treatment options available. You should also come in if you have a painful corn that keeps returning, difficulty finding comfortable shoes, diabetes or circulation problems, or pain that is affecting your daily activities. 🔑 KEYWORDS & TAGS hammer toe treatment, what causes hammer toes, hammer toe without surgery, flexible vs rigid hammer toe, hammer toe podiatrist, bent toe treatment, curled toe fix, corn on top of toe, hammer toe exercises, hammer toe orthotics, hammer toe surgery, hammer toe and bunion, hammer toe Derry NH, foot doctor southern New Hampshire, Foot and Ankle Associates Southern NH, Dr Drew Taft podiatrist #HammerToe #HammerToeTreatment #FootHealth #Podiatrist #FootPain #BentToe #FootDeformity #FootCare #CornOnToe #FootDoctor #DerryNH #SouthernNH #NewHampshire #FootSurgery #PodiatryTips