Forefoot pain

Forefoot pain is a common condition seen at Auckland Sports Podiatry. This is due to the high forces that are transferred through the forefoot at propulsion and side to side movement.

What are the causes of forefoot pain?

There are numerous causes of forefoot pain, including:

• Poor training programs or regimes
• Injury– due to an accident
• Footwear issues- Relating to cushioning, support, fit, heel height and activity suitability.
• Running Technique- Fore foot running can increase your chances of forefoot injury
• Forefoot mal alignment –creating excessive stress on parts of the forefoot.
• Increase in body weight– leading to an increase in overall stress to the forefoot.
• Medical Conditions

Some of the Common conditions in the fore foot?

• Morton’s neuroma – thickening of a nerve in the forefoot.
• Nerve irritation or neuritis- irritation to a nerve(s) in the forefoot.
• Sesamoid injuries – damage to the small bones under the big toe joint
• Hallux abducto valgus (Bunions) – a thickening of the big toe joint due to mal-alignment of the big toe and 1^st metatarsal.
• Gout – accumulation of uric acid crystals within the joints
• Corns and Callus – skin build-up caused by excessive pressure
• Verrucae – viral infection with subsequent build-up of thick skin.
• Metatarsal fractures – due to injury, mal-nourishment or over training
• Metatarsal stress fractures- due to loading the bones above there capacity to take pressures over a period of time
• Osteoarthritis- wear and tear within the joints due to normal aging, injury or deformity.

How can Auckland Sports Podiatry fix you?

Imaging

• X-ray
• Ultrasound

Treatment Types

• Footwear
• Orthotics or insoles
• Exercises- Strengthening
• Exercise or activity modifications
• Gait re-training
• Referral to orthopaedic  or sports physician specialists