What causes hammertoes?
Short answer: Hammertoes usually develop from a combination of tendon imbalance, foot shape, footwear pressure and changes at the toe joints. Bunions, a long second toe and instability at the ball of the foot can contribute.
Shoes do not explain every hammertoe, but a shallow or narrow toe box can repeatedly press an already vulnerable toe. Ageing, previous injury, inflammatory arthritis, neurological conditions and muscle imbalance may also play a role.
The cause is assessed across the whole forefoot. A bent toe may be the visible result of a problem at its base, including plantar-plate insufficiency or metatarsophalangeal joint instability.