A hammertoe may look like a cosmetic issue, but toes do significant work with every step, gripping the ground, pushing off, and sending constant sensory feedback to the brain about the surface beneath your feet. When a toe stiffens into a hammertoe, those signals become less reliable, making uneven ground, quick direction changes, and long periods of standing all feel progressively less stable. For older adults, that balance disruption carries real consequences: as hammertoes worsen, the shift in how weight moves across the foot combines with age-related muscle loss and slower reaction times to increase fall risk on stairs, curbs, and uneven ground. Signs worth paying attention to include tripping more often on thresholds, avoiding uneven surfaces, reaching for railings more than usual, and uneven wear on the soles of shoes. When caught early, while the joint is still flexible, non-surgical options, wide-toe-box shoes, cushioned pads, toe splints, and daily stretches, can slow progression before surgery becomes the better option. Paying attention to early changes in comfort and stability keeps more treatment options available and helps maintain balance and mobility well into later years.

source: https://myfootdoc.com/how-hammertoes-affect-balance-as-you-age/