If one of your toes has started bending in a strange way and doesn’t seem to straighten easily, you might be dealing with something called hammertoe. It’s a lot more common than people think. And the earlier you understand what’s going on, the easier it usually is to treat. Below are six things worth knowing if you suspect this issue or just want to understand what it is.

1. Not all hammertoes are the same
There are actually three stages this condition can go through. It often starts off as a flexible hammertoe, where the toe can still move and hasn’t stiffened up yet. This is the best time to catch it, because treatment tends to work faster.

If things progress, the toe becomes semi-rigid. That means it’s beginning to stiffen, but there’s still some movement. Eventually, if it’s not treated, the toe can become rigid. At that point, it stops moving entirely and the tendons tighten up. It’s harder to fix once it reaches that stage.

2. Your shoes play a bigger role than you think
Shoes can make or break your feet. If you’re squeezing your toes into narrow shoes, heels, or flip-flops that offer no support, you’re putting yourself at risk. The wrong shoes force your toes into unnatural positions, especially over time.

If you want to prevent hammertoe or stop it from getting worse, find shoes with room in the toe area and proper arch support. Try the wiggle test when shopping. If your toes don’t have room to move, the shoes aren’t for you.

3. It sometimes runs in the family
Even if you wear supportive shoes every day, there’s still a chance you can develop this condition. Some people inherit foot structures that make them more prone to hammertoe. One common example is flat feet.

When you have flat feet, your muscles and tendons work harder to stabilize you, and over time, this can cause the toes to shift into an unnatural position. So if your parents or siblings have foot issues, pay extra attention to how your toes look and feel.

4. Weak foot muscles might be behind it
This one surprises a lot of people. When some muscles in your foot get weaker than others, the imbalance can pull on your toes in odd ways. That uneven pull eventually leads to the toe bending.

Muscle imbalance can happen for a few different reasons. It could be something you were born with. It could be from wearing bad shoes for years. Or it could be caused by other foot conditions like flat feet or high arches. Either way, it’s one of the key things that leads to hammertoe.

5. Medications or injections can relieve pain in early stages
If your hammertoe is still flexible or only semi-rigid, pain medications might be enough to manage it. Over-the-counter options can help reduce swelling and discomfort.

In some cases, doctors suggest corticosteroid injections. These are stronger and work fast because they go right into the joint. They reduce inflammation quickly and can help you move your toe more comfortably. But they’re not a long-term fix. Too many injections can damage the joint, so doctors use them carefully.

6. Surgery might be needed if things don’t improve
If the toe has become rigid or if pain is interfering with daily life, hammertoe surgery may be the best option. There are a couple of different procedures depending on how severe the deformity is.

One option is joint fusion, where part of the bone is removed and a wire holds the joint in place while it heals. There’s also a newer type of surgery that uses screws or rods to keep the toe straight without cutting as much of the bone.

No matter which method is used, recovery usually takes around two months. During that time, you’ll wear a special shoe and avoid putting too much weight on your foot. Most people heal well and don’t have long-term problems after surgery.