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The toe didn't always look like that. Maybe it started after a long stretch in shoes that pinched, or after a bunion changed how your foot loaded weight, or after your second toe just quietly decided one day not to lie flat anymore. Then a corn appeared on top of the joint, where shoes rub. Then a callus showed up under the ball of the foot. And now the toe stays bent - even when nothing is pressing against it.
Hammertoes are common, progressive, and very treatable. Our podiatrist at NJ Sports Spine & Wellness in Monroe Township, NJ sees them at every stage - from a barely noticeable curl that responds to a different shoe, to a rigid, painful deformity that needs surgical correction. The right approach depends on how flexible the toe still is, how much it hurts, and what you need your feet to do.
This page covers what a hammertoe is, why they develop, how we treat them, and what makes our practice a good fit for serious foot care.

A hammertoe is a toe deformity in which the middle joint of the toe bends downward, forcing the tip to point toward the floor. The shape resembles the head of a hammer - which is exactly where the name comes from. It most commonly affects the second, third, or fourth toe, and it often shows up in feet that already have a bunion or significant mechanical issues.
Hammertoes fall into two categories, and the distinction matters for treatment:
The toe is bent but can still be manually straightened. Treatment focuses on preserving flexibility, controlling pain, and slowing progression.
The toe has lost the ability to straighten. The joint has stiffened, and surgical correction is usually the most effective path forward.
Most hammertoes start flexible and gradually become rigid if they aren't addressed. That's why earlier care almost always means more options.

Hammertoes announce themselves through both visual changes and patterns of pain. Many patients first notice the appearance - a toe that's curled where it didn't used to be, or that stays bent even when there's no shoe touching it. The discomfort tends to follow shortly after.
Common signs of a hammertoe include:
The corn or callus is often what brings patients in. The pain at the top of the toe - where shoes rub against the raised joint - becomes a daily irritation that doesn't respond to home remedies, because the underlying problem is structural.
A hammertoe develops when the muscles and tendons that control the toe fall out of balance. The tendons that pull the toe up and the ones that pull it down work against each other, and when that balance shifts - usually over years - the joint settles into a bent position.
Several factors contribute to that imbalance:
The takeaway: you didn't get a bunion because you wore the wrong shoes once. It's almost always a combination of how your foot is built and how it's been used over years.
When a hammertoe is still flexible, conservative care can be remarkably effective. The goal isn't full anatomical correction - once the joint has started bending, complete straightening usually requires surgery - but to control pain, preserve flexibility, and slow the slide toward a rigid joint.
Our podiatrist builds non-surgical plans around what's actually causing your symptoms. Common options include:
This is often the single most important step. Shoes with a wider, deeper toe box give the toes room to lie flat. Soft, flexible uppers reduce friction over the bent joint. Lower heels shift weight off the forefoot. These changes alone can dramatically reduce pain.
A properly designed orthotic supports the arch, controls pronation, and redistributes pressure away from the ball of the foot and the bent toe joint. For patients whose hammertoes are driven by foot mechanics - not just shoes - orthotics are often the most impactful single treatment.
Gel pads cushion the corn or callus and reduce friction inside the shoe. Splints can hold the toe in a straighter position and help maintain flexibility. Neither corrects the underlying deformity, but both can meaningfully reduce day-to-day pain.
Targeted exercises - toe stretches, towel scrunches, marble pickups - strengthen the small intrinsic muscles of the foot and improve toe flexibility. When a hammertoe is caught early, consistent exercise can slow or sometimes halt progression.
For flare-ups, ice protocols, topical or oral anti-inflammatories, and occasional corticosteroid injections can break the pain cycle and let the joint calm down.
Because NJ Sports Spine & Wellness brings podiatry and physical therapy under one roof, our podiatrist often coordinates with our PT team for gait retraining and lower-extremity strengthening when foot mechanics are part of the picture.
Many patients with flexible hammertoes manage them effectively for years on this kind of layered plan. The conversation about surgery starts when the joint stiffens, when conservative care can no longer control the pain, or when secondary problems - like recurring infected corns or skin ulcers - start showing up.
When a hammertoe has become rigid, or when pain persists despite consistent conservative care, surgical correction can realign the toe and resolve the symptoms that have been pulling your attention down to your foot all day.
Several surgical approaches are available, and the right one depends on the specifics of your deformity:
for flexible hammertoes that don't respond to conservative care. The procedure rebalances the tendons that are pulling the toe into the bent position.
for rigid hammertoes. A small portion of the stiffened joint is removed to allow the toe to straighten.
for severe, painful rigid hammertoes. The joint is fused in a corrected position, providing permanent stability and pain relief.
Many of these corrections can now be performed using minimally invasive techniques. Small incisions, specialized instruments, and modern fixation hardware allow the procedure to be done with less trauma to the surrounding tissue. The cosmetic result is better, and patients generally experience less postoperative discomfort and a sooner return to walking.

Our podiatrist will examine your foot, review imaging, and recommend the approach most likely to give you a durable, functional result - not just for the affected toe, but for your foot as a whole.

Modern minimally invasive techniques have changed what hammertoe surgery looks like and feels like:
These advantages matter especially for patients who want their feet to look and function normally, and who can't afford to be off their feet for an extended period.
A hammertoe rarely exists in isolation. It usually shows up alongside a bunion, alongside arch problems, or in the context of a foot whose mechanics have been off for years. Treating the toe without considering everything around it tends to produce short-term relief and long-term frustration.
That's where our integrated approach matters:

You won't be funneled toward surgery because that's the only tool available. Our podiatrist treats the full spectrum of hammertoe presentations - from early, flexible deformities to rigid, painful joints - and recommends what's genuinely best for your foot.

Hammertoes often connect to broader mechanical issues. Our Monroe Township, NJ office combines podiatry with physical therapy, chiropractic care, sports medicine, and pain management - so you can address the toe and the upstream causes in one place.

Many of our patients are athletes, runners, or active adults who need their feet to perform, not just survive. Our care model is built around getting people back to the activities they love.

You'll leave your first appointment knowing what you have, what your options are, and what we'd recommend and why. No pressure, no upsell - just the information you need to make a good decision.

Our Monroe Township, NJ office is built around making thorough foot care convenient, with appointment availability designed to fit real schedules.
A flexible hammertoe - one that can still be manually moved into a straight position - can often be managed effectively with non-surgical care. Splints, taping, exercises, orthotics, and the right shoes can reduce pain and slow progression. A rigid hammertoe, where the joint has stiffened, cannot be fully straightened without surgical correction. That's why early evaluation matters: the sooner we see the toe, the more likely conservative care will be enough.
All three involve abnormal bending of the smaller toes, but the affected joints differ. A hammertoe bends at the middle joint of the toe. A mallet toe bends at the joint closest to the toenail. A claw toe involves bending at both joints, often combined with an upward bend at the base of the toe. Treatment principles overlap considerably, though the specific surgical approach may vary.
Look for shoes with a wide, deep toe box that doesn't press down on the bent joint. Soft, flexible uppers reduce friction over the corn or callus. A low heel shifts weight away from the forefoot. Stiff-soled shoes can also help by reducing the bending forces on the toes. Many athletic and comfort-focused brands now make styles specifically designed for patients with toe deformities.
Look for a wide, rounded toe box that doesn't squeeze the joint, a low heel (under one inch is ideal), soft and flexible upper material that won't rub the bunion, and good arch support. Many athletic and walking brands now make models specifically designed with bunion-friendly features. During your appointment, our podiatrist can recommend specific styles that suit the shape of your foot.
Recurrence is uncommon when the underlying foot mechanics are addressed alongside the surgical correction. If a hammertoe is corrected but the original drivers - poor footwear, untreated bunions, abnormal pronation - aren't addressed, the deformity can return over time. A comprehensive treatment plan that combines surgery with mechanical correction and supportive care offers the best long-term results.
If you've been managing around a bent toe - adjusting your shoes, dodging the corn, hoping it doesn't get worse - there's a better path forward. Our podiatry team in Monroe Township, NJ can examine your foot, identify exactly what's happening, and build a plan that fits your life.
Schedule a consultation today. Call (908) 866-7246 or request an appointment online - we offer same-day availability for many appointments.
The state commissioner of education has upheld a ruling that a former Monroe Township school board member violated ethics rules by using his private business to raise money for a middle school parent group.Commissioner Lily Laux also upheld a reprimand against Adi Nikitinsky, rejecting his appeal in a case that dates to 2020.The complaint was filed in 2021 by Sarah Aziz, another former board member. She alleged Nikitinsky violated the School Ethics Act by directing the school’s principal to promote sales of Parent Staff A...
The state commissioner of education has upheld a ruling that a former Monroe Township school board member violated ethics rules by using his private business to raise money for a middle school parent group.
Commissioner Lily Laux also upheld a reprimand against Adi Nikitinsky, rejecting his appeal in a case that dates to 2020.
The complaint was filed in 2021 by Sarah Aziz, another former board member. She alleged Nikitinsky violated the School Ethics Act by directing the school’s principal to promote sales of Parent Staff Association spirit wear while operating Dot Designing, the business that donated the merchandise for resale.
At the time, Nikitinsky had recently joined the board after serving as president of the Monroe Township Middle School Parent Staff Association. Aziz alleged he asked school staff and the principal to send emails advertising the spirit wear, with customers required to pick up orders at Dot Designing because of the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Aziz argued the arrangement created a conflict of interest because Nikitinsky had voted on the principal’s employment contract.
The state School Ethics Commission referred the complaint to the Office of Administrative Law, where an administrative law judge dismissed it in March 2024.
That decision was overturned in June 2024 by the previous education commissioner, who found Nikitinsky committed an ethics violation. Nikitinsky appealed, leading to Laux’s ruling issued March 16.
In her decision, Laux wrote that Nikitinsky’s communications with the principal and others “provided an indirect benefit … by providing free advertising and generating name recognition for his company.”
Because Nikitinsky had voted on the principal’s contract, Laux wrote that “it would be reasonable for a member of the public to think that the principal would feel obliged to acquiesce to (Nikitinsky’s) request.”
The conduct, she ruled, “creates a justifiable impression among the public for the potential for conflict.”
Laux also found that although Nikitinsky donated the merchandise, “the fundraiser nonetheless indirectly promoted his business while orders were picked up at its location.”
Because the spirit wear had to be collected at Dot Designing, the decision states, “it was therefore clear to those families that the spirit wear was created by (Nikitinsky’s) business.”
Laux agreed that a reprimand — “the least severe penalty” — was appropriate.
Email: mdeak@MyCentralJersey.com
The Monroe Township (NJ) varsity softball team has a home non-conference game vs. East Brunswick (NJ) on Monday, April 13 @ 4p.Rankings & RecordsHead-to-HeadCommon Opponents SchoolCommon Opp. Rec.SchoolCommon Opp. Rec. East Brunswick0-0Monroe Township2-0 Date...
The Monroe Township (NJ) varsity softball team has a home non-conference game vs. East Brunswick (NJ) on Monday, April 13 @ 4p.
| School | Common Opp. Rec. | School | Common Opp. Rec. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Brunswick | 0-0 | Monroe Township | 2-0 |
| Date | Away | Home | Result | Date | Away | Home | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/2/26 | East Brunswick | Sayreville | 5/5/26 | Monroe Township | Sayreville | |||
| 4/4/26 | East Brunswick | Carteret | 3/19/26 | Monroe Township | Carteret | (W) 16-2 | ||
| 4/7/26 | East Brunswick | St. Thomas Aquinas | 4/14/26 | St. Thomas Aquinas | Monroe Township | |||
| 4/20/26 | St. Thomas Aquinas | East Brunswick | 5/7/26 | Monroe Township | St. Thomas Aquinas | |||
| 5/2/26 | East Brunswick | St. Thomas Aquinas | ||||||
| 4/9/26 | East Brunswick | South Plainfield | 4/21/26 | Monroe Township | South Plainfield | |||
| 4/28/26 | East Brunswick | South Plainfield | 5/9/26 | South Plainfield | Monroe Township | |||
| 4/11/26 | East Brunswick | Old Bridge | 4/2/26 | Old Bridge | Monroe Township | |||
| 4/30/26 | Old Bridge | East Brunswick | ||||||
| 4/16/26 | Colonia | East Brunswick | 4/7/26 | Colonia | Monroe Township | |||
| 4/18/26 | Spotswood | East Brunswick | 4/9/26 | Monroe Township | Spotswood | |||
| 5/7/26 | Spotswood | East Brunswick | ||||||
| 4/21/26 | Metuchen | East Brunswick | 4/18/26 | Metuchen | Monroe Township | |||
| 5/5/26 | South Brunswick | East Brunswick | 4/16/26 | South Brunswick | Monroe Township | |||
| 5/9/26 | South Brunswick | East Brunswick | ||||||
| 5/11/26 | Woodbridge | East Brunswick | 3/18/26 | Monroe Township | Woodbridge | (W) 12-5 | ||
| 5/1/26 | Woodbridge | Monroe Township | ||||||
| 5/16/26 | Perth Amboy | East Brunswick | 5/11/26 | Monroe Township | Perth Amboy | |||
| 5/21/26 | East Brunswick | Ewing | 4/29/26 | Monroe Township | Ewing |
| 0-0 | Overall | 2-0 |
|---|---|---|
| 0-0 | League | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Non-League | 2-0 |
| 0-0 | Head to Head | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Common Opponent | 2-0 |
| 0-0 | Home | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Away | 2-0 |
| 0-0 | Neutral | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Playoff | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | In-State | 2-0 |
| 0-0 | Out-of-State | 0-0 |
The Monroe Township (NJ) freshman baseball team has a home non-conference game vs. Manalapan (Englishtown, NJ) on Monday, April 27 @ 4p.Manalapan @ MTHS Baseball Game InfoThe Monroe Township (NJ) freshman baseball team has a home non-conference game vs. Manalapan (Englishtown, NJ) on Monday, April 27 @ 4p.Rankings & RecordsHead-to-HeadCommon Opponents SchoolCommon Opp. Rec.School...
The Monroe Township (NJ) freshman baseball team has a home non-conference game vs. Manalapan (Englishtown, NJ) on Monday, April 27 @ 4p.
The Monroe Township (NJ) freshman baseball team has a home non-conference game vs. Manalapan (Englishtown, NJ) on Monday, April 27 @ 4p.
| School | Common Opp. Rec. | School | Common Opp. Rec. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manalapan | 0-0 | Monroe Township | 0-0 |
| Date | Away | Home | Result | Date | Away | Home | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/19/26 | Manalapan | Marlboro | 3/24/26 | Marlboro | Monroe Township | |||
| 5/21/26 | Marlboro | Manalapan |
| 0-0 | Overall | 0-0 |
|---|---|---|
| 0-0 | League | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Non-League | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Head to Head | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Common Opponent | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Home | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Away | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Neutral | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Playoff | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | In-State | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Out-of-State | 0-0 |
The Monroe Township (NJ) JV baseball team has a home non-conference game vs. Manasquan (NJ) on Thursday, May 14 @ 4p.Manasquan @ MTHS Baseball Game InfoRankings & RecordsHead-to-HeadCommon Opponents SchoolCommon Opp. Rec.SchoolCommon Opp. Rec. Manasquan0-0Monroe Township0-0 ...
The Monroe Township (NJ) JV baseball team has a home non-conference game vs. Manasquan (NJ) on Thursday, May 14 @ 4p.
| School | Common Opp. Rec. | School | Common Opp. Rec. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manasquan | 0-0 | Monroe Township | 0-0 |
| Date | Away | Home | Result | Date | Away | Home | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/17/26 | Manasquan | Toms River South | 3/18/26 | Monroe Township | Toms River South | |||
| 4/20/26 | Toms River South | Manasquan | 4/27/26 | Monroe Township | Toms River South | |||
| 4/24/26 | Wall Township | Manasquan | 3/28/26 | Wall Township | Monroe Township |
| 0-0 | Overall | 0-0 |
|---|---|---|
| 0-0 | League | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Non-League | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Head to Head | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Common Opponent | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Home | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Away | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Neutral | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Playoff | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | In-State | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Out-of-State | 0-0 |
The Monroe Township (NJ) varsity baseball team has a home non-conference game vs. Sayreville (Parlin, NJ) on Wednesday, May 6 @ 4p.Sayreville @ MTHS Baseball Game InfoThe Monroe Township (NJ) varsity baseball team has a home non-conference game vs. Sayreville (Parlin, NJ) on Wednesday, May 6 @ 4p.Rankings & Records Team Stat Comparison SayrevilleMonroe Township -Batting Average.154...
The Monroe Township (NJ) varsity baseball team has a home non-conference game vs. Sayreville (Parlin, NJ) on Wednesday, May 6 @ 4p.
The Monroe Township (NJ) varsity baseball team has a home non-conference game vs. Sayreville (Parlin, NJ) on Wednesday, May 6 @ 4p.
| Sayreville | Monroe Township | |
|---|---|---|
| - | Batting Average | .154 |
| - | On Base Percentage | .214 |
| - | Slugging Percentage | .192 |
| - | Fielding Percentage | .917 |
| School | Common Opp. Rec. | School | Common Opp. Rec. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sayreville | 0-0 | Monroe Township | 0-0 |
| Date | Away | Home | Result | Date | Away | Home | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/16/26 | Sayreville | Woodbridge | 4/14/26 | Monroe Township | Woodbridge | |||
| 5/20/26 | Sayreville | Woodbridge | 4/16/26 | Woodbridge | Monroe Township | |||
| 4/4/26 | Sayreville | South Brunswick | 3/21/26 | South Brunswick | Monroe Township | |||
| 4/7/26 | South Brunswick | Sayreville | ||||||
| 4/9/26 | Sayreville | Colonia | 3/26/26 | Monroe Township | Colonia | |||
| 4/11/26 | Colonia | Sayreville | ||||||
| 4/18/26 | Sayreville | Perth Amboy | 5/4/26 | Monroe Township | Perth Amboy | |||
| 4/18/26 | Perth Amboy | Sayreville | ||||||
| 4/21/26 | Perth Amboy | Sayreville | ||||||
| 4/28/26 | Sayreville | Metuchen | 5/9/26 | Monroe Township | Metuchen | |||
| 4/30/26 | Metuchen | Sayreville | ||||||
| 4/30/26 | Sayreville | Metuchen | ||||||
| 5/4/26 | St. Thomas Aquinas | Sayreville | 4/18/26 | Monroe Township | St. Thomas Aquinas | |||
| 4/21/26 | St. Thomas Aquinas | Monroe Township | ||||||
| 5/8/26 | South Plainfield | Sayreville | 4/28/26 | Monroe Township | South Plainfield | |||
| 4/30/26 | South Plainfield | Monroe Township | ||||||
| 5/21/26 | Sayreville | Old Bridge | 4/23/26 | Monroe Township | Old Bridge | |||
| 4/25/26 | Old Bridge | Monroe Township |
| 0-0 | Overall | 0-1 |
|---|---|---|
| 0-0 | League | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Non-League | 0-1 |
| 0-0 | Head to Head | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Common Opponent | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Home | 0-1 |
| 0-0 | Away | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Neutral | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | Playoff | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | In-State | 0-1 |
| 0-0 | Out-of-State | 0-0 |

