Forefoot pain

Tailor’s Bunion

Also known as a ‘bunionette’, this condition is a small bony bump that develops on the side of the base of th little toe.

Bunionettes commonly occur due to ill-fitting footwear. This can include narrow or tight shoes, pointy shoes, or high heels. This is because they force the little toe towards the rest of the other toes, leaving it permanently in this position over time.

Your feet’s biomechanics (the way your feet move) may also contribute to bunionettes. This occurs when there is more loading and pressure through the outside of the foot and through the fifth toe.

This condition can be painful on the side of the foot, may cause redness, irritation, swelling, callus/corns and difficulties wearing enclosed footwear.

It is best to get your feet checked out early to slow down the progression. This may include a full biomechanical assessment, footwear assessment, custom orthotics, and some stretching/exercises where necessary. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary.

Mortons Neuroma

A Morton’s neuroma is the thickening of the tissue around a nerve in between two toes, causing swelling, pain, burning, and tenderness. It is a painful condition which affects the ball of your foot, most commonly in the area between your third and fourth toe.

It can be caused by pressure or injury, such as from running or use of high heels. It can also be caused by poor foot mechanics and posture. It may feel like a pebble in a shoe or a fold in your sock.

Morton’s neuroma can be treated by change in footwear, custom orthotics, strengthening/stretching foot exercises, and in severe cases, steroid injection or surgery may be required. It is essential you treat this condition early, to ensure it does not become severe. Book an initial biomechanical assessment with our expert Podiatrist to get your foot checked out!

Plantar Plate Tear/Rupture

The plantar plate is a thick ligament that runs along the ball of our foot. Its role is to protect the ball of the foot and stop our toes from spreading too far apart. The plantar plate can tear, and even rupture when it is overloaded or strained.  This often occurs in the second toe as it is usually the longest toe and is exposed to most load when doing activity.

Risk factors for plantar plate tear include: having flat feet, bunions, hammer toe, long second toe, and engaging in activities which put pressure on the ball of the foot, such as dancing, running and climbing stairs.

The first sign of a plantar pain tears can involve persistent pain under the ball of the foot that extends to the length of the toe. This pain can also be felt when bending the toe upward. Sometimes redness and swelling can also be present.

Diagnosing a plantar plate tear can often be difficult, which is why it is important to seek help from an experienced Podiatrist. Plantar plates can range from mild to complete rupture, and sometimes imaging is required to determine the severity. Once the severity is determined, our expert Podiatrist will be able to tailor a management plan which may involve taping, offloading, footwear recommendation, possible custom orthotics to prevent further injury and anti-inflammatories if necessary. In some cases, surgery may be required to repair the ruptured or severely torn plantar plate.