Symptoms and causes of Metatarsalgia: The primary symptom of metatarsalgia is pain at the end of one or more of the metatarsal bones. The pain is typically aggravated when walking or running. Athletes who participate in high-impact activities and may also have an inflammatory condition such as bursitis often have diffuse forefoot and midfoot pain. Most often, the pain comes on over a period of several months, rather than suddenly. A condition known as Mortons neuroma (interdigital neuroma) produces symptoms of metatarsalgia due to irritation and inflammation of a nerve at the site of pain. People with Mortons neuroma may experience toe numbness in addition to pain in the forefoot. - Causes: The foot can be injured during sports activities. As with many other overuse injuries, the condition may be the result of an alteration in normal biomechanics that has caused an abnormal weight distribution. Persistent stress can lead to chronic irritation and inflammation of the bone covering and adjacent tissues, such as ligaments and tendons. The following factors can contribute to excessive localized pressure over the forefoot: High level of activity; Prominent metatarsal heads; Tight toe extensors (muscles); Weak toe flexors (muscles); Hammertoe deformity; Hypermobile first foot bone; Tight Achilles tendon; Excessive pronation (side-to-side movement of the foot when walking or running); Ill-fitting footwear; Some anatomical conditions may predispose individuals to forefoot problems. They include: A high arch. A short first metatarsal bone often seen in people with a Morton toe; the normal forefoot balance is disturbed, resulting in the shift of an increased amount of weight to the second metatarsal. Hammertoe deformity. Any or all of the above musculoskeletal problems may contribute to forefoot trauma in athletes.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 08:27:08 +0000