What Causes Cuboid Syndrome And How Your Foot Doctor Might Treat This Condition
Cuboid syndrome is a foot injury that usually causes pain along the same side of your foot as your little toe. The condition can occur suddenly due to an acute injury, or it can develop gradually due to repetitive motion.
Anyone can develop cuboid syndrome, but it is most common in athletes, such as runners, tennis players, and dancers. Here are things that cause cuboid syndrome, how your foot is affected, and how a foot doctor might treat the injury.
Causes Of Cuboid Syndrome
This foot condition affects the cuboid bone in your foot. It's possible for the bone to fracture, but the most common injury is for the bone to become dislocated. This might happen due to a ligament injury or a muscle imbalance in your calf or foot.
You might have a higher risk for this injury if you don't wear proper footwear, especially when playing sports. Repetitive side-to-side movements, such as when you play tennis, can also lead to cuboid syndrome.
Ways Your Foot Is Affected
When the cuboid bone is dislocated, you'll experience foot pain that gets worse when you bear weight on your foot. You might walk with a limp due to the pain. Your foot might also have swelling and a reduced range of motion.
Early treatment reduces the risk of further injury and pain, so see a foot doctor if you have these symptoms and suspect you might have cuboid syndrome.
Treatments For Cuboid Syndrome
It's important to rest your foot so it can heal. You may need to stop playing sports until the pain is gone and your doctor says you can resume your usual activities. A mild injury might heal in several days, while a more severe injury could take weeks.
If you get to the foot doctor soon after your injury, the doctor might be able to push or squeeze your foot and pop the cuboid bone back in place. If your condition is chronic, the bone may not stay in place right away, and you could need multiple foot manipulations.
Your foot doctor may also tape your foot to stabilize the bone. You might be given shoe inserts to wear to support your foot injury and correct your gait. Once healing is underway, you might be sent to a physical therapist who can help with range of motion and muscle balancing. You may need to do exercises that strengthen weak calf and foot muscles so your foot is more stable.
You may need to rest with your foot elevated above your heart for a few days. Ice can help reduce pain and swelling. Your podiatrist might wrap your foot with a compression bandage for additional help with swelling.
You may also need to stay off of your foot until your foot doctor says you can start bearing weight again. You might need to use crutches, a cane, or a knee walker depending on how mobile you need to be while you're healing.
For more information, reach out to a local foot doctor, or visit a website like https://www.familyfootcenter.net/.
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