What to look for Causes Treatment What to look for Hammer, mallet and claw toes are common and often painful deformities of the feet. All of these conditions can cause painful corns and calluses if they rub on shoes. Hammer toes are bent down at the middle joint and up at the joint closest to the foot.
Mallet toes are bent down at the end joint only.
Claw toes are toes that are bent down at both the middle and end joints and bent up at the joint closest to the foot. Causes These conditions are produced by muscle and tendon imbalances that cause the joints to bend. They may range in severity from mild and easily correctable to rigid and fixed. These problems are most common in females. The high heels and small toe boxes of women's shoes, worn over long periods of time are major contributing factors.