Your second toe likely sticks up due to a condition called hammer toe, and the most common cause is wearing improperly fitting shoes.
Understanding Hammer Toe
Hammer toe occurs when the muscles and tendons in your toe become imbalanced, causing the toe to bend upward at the middle joint. This bent position can become fixed over time, making it difficult or impossible to straighten your toe.
The Role of Footwear
The primary culprit for hammer toe, as the reference states, is wearing short, narrow shoes that are too tight. These types of shoes:
- Crowd your toes together.
- Force the toe into a bent position.
- Lead to tightening of the muscles and tendons.
- Cause the toe to stay in a bent position long term.
Other Contributing Factors
While ill-fitting footwear is the leading cause, other factors can contribute to hammer toe, although the primary reference is specifically about footwear:
- Genetics: Some people are predisposed to developing hammer toes due to inherited foot structure.
- Injury: A previous toe injury can increase the risk of developing a hammer toe.
- Medical conditions: Certain conditions, like arthritis, can also contribute to the development of hammer toe.
- High Heels: Shoes with high heels can put extra pressure on your toes.
What to do about it?
While the provided reference doesn't give treatment advice, if you are concerned, seek advice from a medical professional. Generally, you can consider:
- Switching to shoes with a wide toe box and sufficient space for your toes.
- Using toe pads or cushions to help reduce pressure on the bent joint.
- Seeking medical advice from a healthcare professional if the condition is causing pain or discomfort.
In summary, your second toe sticks up primarily because of the shoes you wear, causing a condition called hammer toe where the muscles and tendons in the toe become tight due to being cramped and bent out of shape in tight shoes.
