Hammertoes and mallet toes are foot deformations that happen because of a structural imbalance in the muscles, ligaments or tendons that regularly hold the toe straight. The kind of shoes you wear, foot structure, injury and certain procedures can add to these deformities.
A hammertoe is characterized by an anomalous twist in the center joint of a toe, while a mallet toe affects the joint closest to the toenail. Hammertoes and mallet toes usually occur in your second, third and fourth toes.
Diminishing the pain and other effects of hammer toes and mallet toes may involve changing your footwear and wearing shoe inserts. Just in case you have a more serious case of hammertoe or mallet toe, you may require surgery to get relief.
