Inspection of the toes with the hands to detect the presence of calluses, warts or athlete's foot
If you’ve noticed the joint on your toe, either on the one next to the big toe or the smallest toe, points upward instead of lying flat, chances are you have a hammertoe. Hammertoe happens when one of the toe muscles grows weak and puts pressure on the toe’s tendons and joints.
This pressure forces the toe to become misshapen and point upward at the joint. It’s no strange occurrence for a corn or callus to form on top of the toe. This can cause pain when it rubs against your shoe. Hammertoe is caused by genes, wearing the wrong shoes, neuromuscular diseases, and diabetes. Here are some ways to help prevent hammertoe.