Forefoot pain

Forefoot pain (often referred to as metatarsalgia), can have many causes. The key is to make an accurate diagnosis and to ascertain the cause for the condition. The Centre uses different techniques including orthotic therapy, mobilisation, rehabilitation, injection therapy and surgery. Kinetic analysis is one of the key investigations used at the Centre to determine the cause for metatarsalgia. This system is also extremely useful in ensuring that treatment has been effective in normalising forefoot pressures.

Causes for metatarsalgia include:

1. Morton's neuroma: A condition where the nerve becomes impinged and thickened. If the nerve has not enlarged too much, then non-surgical treatment can be effective. In cases where the nerve is large, injection therapy or surgery may be required.
2. Plantar Plate / Flexor Tendon Inflamation: This is probably the most common cause for forefoot pain. Here the metatarsal heads have become over loaded due to foot instability and overload. Non-surgical treatment is generally effective unless the condition has become very chronic.
3. Stress fractures: These are often seen at the centre and must be diagnosed and managed quickly to avoid a "complete fracture" which can have far more serious consequences. The problem is generally caused by metatarsal overload due to the foot not functioning normally and a full biomechanical assessment is therefore important.