eMedicine Specialties > Sports Medicine > Foot and Ankle

Metatarsalgia: Treatment & Medication

Author: Britt A Durham, MD, Director of Risk Management, Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, King-Drew Medical Center and University of California at Los Angeles; CFO of Durcress Medical Group
Coauthor(s): Daniel Kaplan, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopedics, University of California Irvine
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Nov 1, 2007

Treatment

Acute Phase

Rehabilitation Program

Physical Therapy

The initial treatment includes regular icing and application of a pressure bandage (or RICE: rest, icing, compression, and elevation). Recommend non–weight-bearing ambulation for the first 24 hours, after which passive range-of-motion (ROM) and ultrasound treatments can be initiated. The use of metatarsal pads and other orthotic devices may provide relief, even in the early phases of treatment.^6,11

Rehabilitation begins on the first day of injury, with the goal of restoring normal ROM, strength, and function. Long-axis distraction and dorsal/plantar glides of the metatarsophalangeal joint are self-mobilization techniques that can be used throughout the treatment process.

Occupational Therapy

Semi-rigid orthoses worn in supportive shoes have been shown to be effective treatment for metatarsalgia.¹¹ Supportive shoes worn alone, with or without soft orthoses, have not been shown to provide adequate pain relief.

Medical Issues/Complications

The patient should avoid disrupting the healing process; rather, the patient should perform stretching and strengthening exercises carefully. Likewise, the patient’s return to higher-level activity should be pursued gradually and with caution to prevent reinjury. However, this obvious decreased level of activity may not be acceptable to some athletes. The practitioner may need to reinforce the relationship between the pain and the activity and discourage the athlete from trying to run in spite of the pain.

Surgical Intervention

Successful metatarsal pain outcomes have been reported with oblique osteotomy.¹² The better outcomes are attributed to improved techniques to facilitate precise metatarsal positioning in different planes.

Other Treatment

• Removing the callus (plantar keratosis) is not advised because the callus is a response to pressure and is not the primary disease. Temporary relief can be achieved by shaving down the callus; however, the clinician should avoid causing bleeding from excessive debridement and from the use of acids and other chemicals.
• If the patient's symptoms are acute with a short duration, abnormal pronation of the subtalar joint can be the primary etiology. Use orthotic devices in these cases. Chronic symptoms respond better to a metatarsal bar that can be added to the running or athletic shoe.
• Individuals with a pes cavus foot type who experience pain from metatarsalgia respond well to an orthotic device that provides total contact to the medial longitudinal arch because preventing collapse of the arch reduces the stress on the metatarsal heads. Patients with a Morton toe respond well to a rigid orthotic with an extension underneath the first metatarsal bone.

Recovery Phase

Rehabilitation Program

Physical Therapy

The primary focus of treatment is restoration of normal foot biomechanics and relief of pressure in the symptomatic area. Therapy must allow the inflammation to subside or resolve by relieving the repeated excessive pressure.

Once the individual is pain free, initiate isometric, isotonic, and isokinetic strengthening exercises. Passive ROM exercises can progress to active exercises as the inflammation resolves. Therapy to increase dorsiflexion ROM allows improved forward progression of the tibia over the foot, with reduced stress on the forefoot. Strengthening the toe flexor muscles may allow for greater weight-bearing capacity on the toes.

Recreational Therapy

Swimming is an excellent exercise for maintaining physical conditioning while the patient is in a restricted weight-bearing phase of healing.

Other Treatment (Injection, manipulation, etc.)

Patients with an interdigital neuroma component of injury can benefit from a nerve block in combination with administration of long-acting steroids. Individuals with primary metatarsalgia receive little benefit from such injections.

Maintenance Phase

Rehabilitation Program

Physical Therapy

As the inflammation subsides, an orthotic device is often the only intervention that is required to maintain normal mechanical function. These orthoses are necessary to distribute force away from the site of injury. Patients should continue self-mobilization exercises, including long-axis distraction and dorsal/plantar glides.

Surgical Intervention

Shoe modification with an orthosis may be the only treatment required for metatarsalgia. In severe cases, surgical realignment of the metatarsal bones may be required to balance weight bearing among the metatarsal heads.

In cases where conservative treatment has failed to provide relief of symptoms, surgical intervention may be required, including operative synovectomy, arthroplasty, wedge osteotomies of the metatarsal bases, ligamentous release, and tendon transfer.

Many types of osteotomies have been described as possible surgical interventions for metatarsalgia.^12,13 Success and complications rates vary. The Weil osteotomy of the second and third metatarsals has been shown to be an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of central metatarsalgia.¹³

Consultations

Consider referral to an orthopedic specialist if no improvement has been achieved after 3 months of treatment.

Other Treatment

The high pressure under the metatarsal heads can be reduced by applying metatarsal pads. In a double-blind study, tear-drop shaped, polyurethane metatarsal pads were applied by experienced physiatrists to a total of 18 feet.⁶  As a result, there were significantly decreased maximal peak pressures and pressure time intervals during exercise that correlated with better pain and function outcomes.

Medication

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, are useful for the symptomatic relief of the pain of metatarsalgia; however, these agents rarely provide a long-term solution.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDS are most commonly used for the relief of mild to moderate pain. Although the effects of these agents in the treatment of pain tend to be patient specific, ibuprofen is usually the drug of choice (DOC) for initial therapy. Options include ketoprofen and naproxen and many other NSAIDs.

Ibuprofen (Motrin, Ibuprin)

DOC for patients with mild to moderate pain. Inhibits inflammatory reactions and pain by decreasing prostaglandin synthesis.

Ketoprofen (Oruvail, Actron, Orudis)

For relief of mild to moderate pain and inflammation.

Small dosages are initially indicated in small and elderly patients and in those with renal or liver disease. Doses over 75 mg do not increase therapeutic effects. Administer high doses with caution, and closely observe patient for response.

Naproxen (Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn, Anaprox)

For relief of mild to moderate pain; inhibits inflammatory reactions and pain by decreasing activity of cyclooxygenase, which results in a decrease of prostaglandin synthesis

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