To talk about metatarsalgia conditions, we must first understand what the metatarsus is. The metatarsus is a group of five long bones located between the tarsus and the phalanges of the sole of the feet.
So, what is metatarsalgia? It is a condition that causes pain and inflammation in the metatarsus area. It can develop if we constantly perform activities like running or jumping, but there are also other causes, such as foot deformities or wearing uncomfortable shoes.
Although it is usually not serious, it is advisable to treat it, either with home remedies such as hot-cold therapies, resting, massaging, and using specialized insoles. These treatments will help prevent a worse condition.
Symptoms
- Intense, continuous or sharp pain in the ball of the foot, the area just behind the toes.
- Pain that worsens when standing, running, bending the foot, or walking, especially barefoot on a hard surface, and improves when resting.
- Sharp or stabbing pain, numbness, or tingling in the toes.
- Feeling like there is a stone in the shoe.
Treatments
Some basic advice includes changing footwear, losing weight, removing calluses from the feet, or using customized insoles to eliminate maximum pressure points.
- Physiotherapy Treatment:
- Self-foot massage with a ball.
- Self-massage and separation of the toes.
- Stretching the front arch of the foot.
- Stretching of the calves and soleus.
- Stretching the anterior musculature of the foot and ankle.
- Self-massage and global mobilization of the foot.
- Pharmacological Treatment: During more acute pain phases with inflammation, anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs are often sufficient. If not, hyaluronic acid infiltration is also used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
- Surgical Treatment: May be advisable in cases of metatarsalgia caused by foot deformities.
- Open Surgery: Shortening and/or elevating the metatarsals through open surgery, positioning them and fixing them in the optimal position.
- Percutaneous Surgery: Small incisions of approximately 3mm over the bone and soft tissues are used to correct the foot deformity. This minimally invasive treatment corrects the deformity causing the pain.
Risk Factors
Almost anyone can suffer from metatarsalgia, but the risk is higher in the following cases:
- Participating in high-impact sports that include activities such as running and jumping.
- Wearing high heels, shoes that do not fit well, or shoes with spikes or studs, such as several types of sports footwear.
- Being overweight or obese.
- Having other foot problems, such as hammer toes or calluses on the sole of the foot.
- Having any type of inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout.
Complications
If left untreated, metatarsalgia can cause pain in other parts of the same foot or feet, as well as pain in other parts of the body, such as the lower back or hips, causing limping (alteration of gait) due to foot pain.
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