Breaks and fractures to the bones in your feet, however small they may be, can be uncomfortable and debilitating.
Here, we run through the symptoms and causes of sesamoiditis in the feet and discuss how wearing OrthoSole insoles can help to not only treat inflamed and broken bones, but also prevent these problems from occurring in the first place.
What is sesamoiditis?
There are two sesamoids in the foot. These pea-shaped bones sit behind the toe joint and are embedded in the tendon that controls movement in this part of the body.
As well as being responsible for lifting the bones of the big toe and allowing it to curl and flex, these sesamoids also help to support your body weight during activity.
Like other bones, sesamoids can become damaged and irritated, leading to sesamoiditis. Sufferers will normally experience pain and swelling in or near the big toe, tenderness on the ball of the foot, and increased pain while standing, walking or exercising.
What causes sesamoiditis?
The most common causes of sesamoiditis are:
- High arched feet
- Overpronation
- Tight calf muscles
- Wearing high heeled shoes
- Running, jumping or dancing
You are also susceptible to developing the condition if you suffer from osteoarthritis, as this in itself can start to weaken your bone structure.
Common symptoms
If you’re suffering from sesamoiditis, you’ll normally experience a dull ache in your toes and in the bottom of your feet that will get worse with time. You may also find yourself trying to shift your weight to your other foot while standing or walking to eliminate your discomfort.
If your pain started suddenly, you may have a full-blown breakage or fracture.
Be sure to book a consultation with your doctor to determine the root cause of your pain. He or she may want to order an X-ray or an MRI scan for a better idea of what’s going on.
How can it be treated?
As soon as you start to notice pain in and around the sesamoid bones, stop taking part in any activities that could irritate these bones further. If you absolutely must train, swap high impact exercises for those that do not place as much strain on your feet. Cycling and swimming are both great options.
You may find that placing an ice pack on the affected area will help to relieve pain and inflammation – and over-the-counter medications will help in the short term.
Wearing orthotic insoles in your shoes will also reduce the pressure on your feet, provide better stability to combat overpronation, and encourage faster healing.
Choosing the best insoles for sesamoiditis
There are all kinds of insoles on the market – but we’re confident that our products are some of the most effective when it comes to tackling the symptoms of sesamoiditis!
For maximum benefit we recommend purchasing our Max Cushion for your Trainers & Work Boots (shoes with that bit of room) and then our Thin Style for your tight fitting / formal shoes. No matter what shoes you wear making sure the support is there!
OrthoSole insoles for sesamoiditis are completely self-customisable. Each pair of inserts comes with a set of arch pieces and metatarsal pads that offer Light, Medium and Firm support. You can use a combination of whichever pieces provide you with the most comfort, and you can even choose to use a different set of pads on each of your feet if one of them is injured and needs more cushioning than the other. Check out the key differences between the products in our range here.
