Sesamoiditis
Sesamoiditis is a type of tendonitis that occurs in those who spend a lot of time on their toes, namely runners, catchers in baseball and dancers.
Sesamoiditis is a form of tendonitis that affects individuals who frequently stay on their toes, such as runners, baseball catchers, and dancers.
To grasp the concept of sesamoiditis, it's important to have a brief biology overview. The body contains several sesamoids, which are small bones not linked to other bones but are instead attached to tendons or muscles.
Two small sesamoids, roughly the size of a pencil eraser, are situated on the underside of the foot near the big toe. They are embedded within the tendons and function as a pulley to enhance the tendon's leverage over the big toe. These bones assist the foot in bearing weight and enable the big toe to operate effectively.
Causes
When the tendons surrounding these sesamoid bones become inflamed, we get sesamoiditis. This inflammation can result from overuse, excessive strain, or trauma to the area.
Diagnosing
To diagnose sesamoiditis, we conduct a thorough physical examination of the foot. We'll move the foot around and put light pressure on areas around the sesamoids to determine exactly where the pain originates. If sesamoiditis is suspected, we'll likely conduct X-rays and possibly a bone scan.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually come on gradually and include:
pain under the big toe where it meets the forefoot
discomfort in moving the big toe
tenderness
swelling
bruising or redness
The pain starts out as a dull ache and will increase to an intense pain or even throbbing during activity.
Treatment
There are a few treatment options for sesamoiditis, starting with rest. The tendons need a break from the activity that is causing the inflammation, so we'll prescribe rest and possibly ice therapy.
We might also recommend:
changes in your shoes
taping
shoe pads to cushion the sesamoids
possibly steroid injections
Laser therapy has been effective in treating this problem. Laser therapy typically decreases pain by 75% in 14 days.
If the X-rays show that the sesamoids have been fractured, we may also recommend orthotics to cushion the bones further and allow the tendons to heal.