what is a hammer toe
A hammer toe is a contracture, or bending, of the toe at the first joint of the digit, called the proximal interphalangeal joint.This bending causes the toe to appear like an upside-down V when looked at from the side. hammer toe develops because of an abnormal balance of the muscles in the toes. This abnormal balance causes increased pressures on the tendons and joints of the toe, leading to its contracture. Heredity and trauma can also lead to the formation of a hammer toe.