Does the second toe next to the big toe of your foot bump into the front of your shoes? If so, you will probably develop, or already have, a hammertoe. While hammertoes can develop on any toe, they usually occur in the second toe. The toe becomes bent and painful and buckles under. The top of it rubs against the inside of the shoe. Over time, this effects the toe joints and tendons causing the toe to reshape itself. Eventually the toe has a claw-like appearance. Pressure on top of the toe leads to a hard corn developing over the bones of the toe.

Symptoms of hammertoe include:
* Pain at the tip of the toe where it hits the shoe.
* A toe that buckles under.
* A callus or hard corn on top of the toe.
* Redness and inflammation.

Causes of hammertoe include:
* Heredity.
* Wearing shoes that are too tight or too narrow.
* A flat front arch.
* A bunion may cause the big toe to slide under the second toe.

To prevent hammertoes:
* Wear shoes that are the proper length and width.
* Apply a donut-shaped pad to the top of the toe to reduce friction and irritation.
* Stretch the toes often.
* Tape the toes to maintain symmetry.
* Take ibuprofen or aspirin to relieve pain and inflammation or take acetaminophen for minor pain.

Hammertoes occur not only from wearing shoes that are too short, but also as a result of muscle and nerve damage caused by diabetes. Shoe inserts do not help hammertoes. Stretching the foot and doing activities that do not bother them will decrease discomfort.

In extreme cases, surgery is used to straighten the toe or remove the bony prominence on the back of the toe.

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