Hammer Toe Treatment at Foot Foundation
Hammer toes can cause painful corns, footwear irritation, and difficulty walking. Whether flexible or rigid, the deformity puts excess pressure on the toes, often worsening over time.
At Foot Foundation, our podiatrists provide expert diagnosis and management for hammer toes—offering footwear advice, orthotics, corn care, and when needed, surgical referral. Our goal is to relieve pain, improve comfort, and help patients stay active without limitations.
What are Hammer Toes?
A hammer toe is a deformity where one of the lesser toes (most commonly the second, third, or fourth toe) bends abnormally at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint, giving the toe a hammer-like appearance.
Hammer toes may be flexible (the toe can still be straightened manually) or rigid (fixed deformity). Over time, rigid hammer toes often worsen, leading to corns, calluses, footwear irritation, and pain during walking or standing.
At Foot Foundation, we provide comprehensive diagnosis and management, targeting both the symptoms and the underlying biomechanical causes to improve comfort and function.
Causes & Risk Factors
Footwear – tight, narrow, or high-heeled shoes that crowd the toes
Biomechanics – flat feet, high arches, or long second metatarsals altering toe loading
Bunions (hallux valgus) – the big toe drifts inward, forcing other toes into abnormal positions
Muscle imbalance – between intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscles, pulling toes into flexion
Arthritis – rheumatoid or osteoarthritis affecting the small toe joints
Neurological conditions – nerve or muscle disorders affecting toe control
Trauma – previous toe injury or poorly healed fracture
Age – more common in adults, particularly women, due to footwear and ligament laxity
Treatment at Foot Foundation
Footwear advice – recommending shoes with a wide toe box, soft uppers, and low heels
Custom orthotics – correct biomechanics, redistribute pressure, and offload painful areas
Padding & splints – protect corns/calluses, realign toes in flexible cases
Exercise therapy – strengthening intrinsic foot muscles, stretching tight tendons
Manual therapy & mobilisation – improve joint mobility in flexible hammer toes
Callus and corn care – professional podiatry treatment for pain relief
Shockwave therapy – in chronic cases with associated soft tissue pain
Referral for surgery – if pain persists or deformity is severe, surgical correction may involve tendon release, joint fusion, or bone realignment
Symptoms
Visible bending of one or more toes at the middle joint
Pain or aching on the top of the toe from shoe pressure
Corns or calluses forming on the top or tip of the toe, or under the ball of the foot
Redness, swelling, or inflammation around the affected toe
Stiffness or inability to fully straighten the toe in rigid cases
Difficulty finding comfortable footwear
Secondary pain in the ball of the foot (metatarsalgia)
Diagnosis
At Foot Foundation, diagnosis includes:
Clinical examination – toe flexibility, alignment, callus/corn distribution
Biomechanical analysis – gait assessment, arch mechanics, metatarsal length patterns
Footwear review – checking contribution of shoe shape and fit
Imaging (if needed):
X-rays – to evaluate joint alignment, deformity severity, and arthritis
Hammer Toes – FAQs
A hammer toe is a deformity where the toe bends downward at the middle joint, giving it a hammer-like appearance.
They are caused by footwear pressure, biomechanical imbalance, bunions, arthritis, or muscle imbalance in the foot.
Yes. They often cause pain, corns, calluses, and footwear irritation, especially in rigid cases.
Flexible hammer toes can be managed with orthotics, footwear changes, splints, and exercises. Rigid deformities usually require surgery if painful.
Yes. Orthotics redistribute pressure, support the arch, and reduce strain, preventing progression and reducing pain.
Shoes with a wide toe box, soft uppers, and cushioning are best. Avoid narrow, pointed, or high-heeled shoes.
Exercises may help in flexible hammer toes, strengthening intrinsic muscles and maintaining mobility. They cannot reverse a rigid deformity but may reduce pain.
Surgery is considered if:
- Pain is persistent despite conservative treatment
- Corns/calluses are severe
- Deformity is rigid and worsening
- Walking and footwear are significantly limited
Yes. Bunions often push adjacent toes out of alignment, contributing to hammer toe deformity.
Yes. Recurrence is possible if underlying biomechanics are not addressed. Post-surgical orthotics and footwear modification help prevent recurrence.
Why Choose Foot Foundation?
Foot Foundation provides specialist hammer toe care, integrating podiatry and physiotherapy expertise. We focus on conservative management with orthotics, footwear optimisation, and exercise therapy, and coordinate surgical referral when necessary.
With clinics in Rosedale, Takapuna, Remuera, Botany, Hamilton, and Tauranga, expert hammer toe treatment is available across New Zealand.
