Why do hammertoes develop?

Contracted hammertoes develop for one reason – a mechanical over-powering of the tendons on the toes. There are very powerful tendons that attach to the top or bottom of the toes. Some conditions force one set of tendons, the ones on the top or the bottom, to pull a stronger force than the other set. The tendons on the top of the toes are called extensor tendons and the ones on the bottom are flexors. They flex or extend the toes.

So, why is there a situation where one set of tendons overpowers the other?

The answer always goes to the alignment of the bones of the feet. The most common cause for a contracted toe is called “flexor stabilization hammertoe.” This is associated with a foot structure that is in a weakened or what is called over-pronation. The exact reasoning why an over-pronating foot leads to this type of a hammertoe has really never been explained, except to say that the flexor tendons are pulling with a stronger force than the extensor tendons. Eventually, what used to be a straight toe becomes a bent toe, and what was a flexible bent toe, eventually becomes a rigid bent toe.

It is very important to know the underlying cause of the formation of a hammertoe.

It’s like having a flat tire on your car or bike. The flat tire is the symptom, the thing you see, or experience. There is an underlying cause for that flat tire. If you just fill-up the tire with air without fixing the underlying cause, the hole in the tire, the tire will go flat again. It seems so obvious, but the medical community only likes to focus their attention on treating symptoms. Little attention is focused on fixing the underlying cause.

Here is the real reason why flexor stabilization hammertoes occur.

It begins when the ankle bone partially dislocates on the heel bone. This leads to a prolonged weakening of the joints within the foot. The foot is in a weakened pronated position, rather than a strong supinated position. This creates instability within the joints of the foot.