D.P.M. A hammer toe is a bent or contracted toe. Usually the toes lie flat on the ground, only bending during certain points while walking.
Toes assist the foot in pushing off the ground during walking and running.
There are tendons which insert into the top and bottom of the toes which make them bend up or down. If one set of tendons overpowers the other or is used excessively due to an imbalance, the result is excessive bending of the toe. Over time this can lead to tightening of the tendon and later, contracture of the toe. If the bent position of the toe can still be manually straightened out, the deformity is called a flexible hammer toe. When the contracture cannot be manually straightened out it is called a rigid hammer toe.