Metatarsal tendonitis – or more commonly known as metatarsalgia is a common overuse injury. the term describes pain and inflammation in the ball of the foot. It is often thought of as a symptom of other conditions, rather than as a specific disease.
Foot injuries including metatarsalgia, are common in athletes who participate in high-impact sports. Athletes who take part in high-impact sports involving running or jumping are at high risk of forefoot injuries. While track and field runners are exposed to the highest level of traumatic forces to the forefoot, many other athletes, including tennis, football, baseball, and soccer players often have forefoot injuries.
SYMPTOMS
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 widespread forefoot and midfoot pain.
Most often, the pain comes on over a period of several months, rather than suddenly.
A condition known as Morton’s neuroma (interdigital neuroma) produces symptoms of metatarsalgia due to irritation and inflammation of a nerve at the site of pain. People with Morton’s neuroma my 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
- weak toe flexors
- hammertoe deformity
- hypermobile first foot bone
- tight achilles tendon
- excessive pronation
- ill-fitting footwear
Some anatomical conditions may predispose individuals to forefoot problems. They include:
- high arch
- short first metatarsal bone often seen in people with a Morton toe; the normal forefoot balance is disturbed, resulting in a 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.