Cuboid syndrome is a condition caused by an injury to the cuboid bone's joint and ligaments. One of the seven tarsal bones of the foot is the cuboid bone.
Cuboid syndrome is characterized by pain on the lateral side of the foot, which is the side where the little toe is located. Pain is frequently felt in the middle of the foot, as well as in the bases of the fourth and fifth toes.
Cuboid syndrome is difficult to diagnose because it's difficult to pinpoint where the pain is coming from. It's easy to confuse it with a stress fracture, however stress fractures in the cuboid bone are uncommon.
Learn more about cuboid syndrome's causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and therapy in this article.
 |
| The basics of cuboid syndrome |
What is cuboid syndrome?
Cuboid syndrome occurs when the bones in the center of the foot are partially dislocated.
Subluxation of the midtarsal joint is the medical term for this.
Cuboid syndrome occurs when the cuboid bone slides down and out of line with the calcaneus bone, the other bone in the joint.
This might happen as a result of a sudden injury or excessive use of the foot joints.
What is the prevalence of cuboid syndrome?
While cuboid syndrome is not uncommon in the general population, it is more common among sportsmen and dancers, according to reports. According to a 2011 study, 4% of athletes with foot injuries experienced issues with the cuboid area.
When cuboid syndrome is correctly diagnosed and treated, the majority of people recover completely.
Symptoms and possible diagnoses
Cuboid syndrome affects the lateral side of the foot and causes pain. The pain may appear suddenly or gradually build over time.
The following are some of the most common cuboid syndrome symptoms:
- The pain is on the lateral side of the foot, on the side of the little toe.
- Weight-bearing makes the ache worse.
- The pain might be slow and painful, or it can be sharp and severe.
- walking difficulties
- Hoping is a challenging task.
- Swelling can be exacerbated by raising the heel and pressing off the toe.
- Foot and/or ankle range of motion is restricted
- sensitive skin on the soles of the feet
- The pain was referred to the outside of the ankle.
Causes
 |
| Cuboid syndrome is more common in dancers and athletes. |
Cuboid syndrome can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
Overuse
Overuse or injury are the most common causes of cuboid syndrome.
This helps to explain why athletes and dancers are more prone to cuboid syndrome. Both groups have a proclivity for working through pain and being extremely active in high-stress settings, which raises the likelihood of accidents.
Overuse injuries are common in athletes who engage in repetitive high-intensity activities such as jogging for long periods of time.
Ankle sprain
An inversion sprain of the ankle is the most common cause of cuboid syndrome. This happens when the ankle turns inward unexpectedly, though it can also happen when the ankle twists outward.
According to a 2006 study, up to 40% of those who have inversion ankle sprains may also have cuboid syndrome.
Feet that are pronated
Cuboid syndrome may be more common in those who have pronated feet, or feet that bend inward as they walk. When a person's calf muscles (peroneus longus) are overly tense, the cuboid bone can be pulled out of place when the foot is pronated.
Other pursuits
This condition has also been linked to the following factors:
- Tennis and racquetball are two examples of sports having quick, side-to-side movements.
- ascending the stairwell
- wearing shoes that don't fit well or don't provide enough support
- uneven surfaces for training
- ignoring the need of rest and recovery after hard exercise
Treatment
Rest and limiting or eliminating activities that involve putting weight on the foot are the first steps in treating cuboid syndrome.
RICE therapy, which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation, is one of the most common at-home therapies.
Individuals should visit a doctor or physical therapist if the pain persists or worsens. To treat cuboid syndrome, a qualified practitioner can do the following foot manipulations:
The whip of the cuboid
- Lie down on your back with the injured foot's knee bent and the therapist holding the injured foot.
- With your foot flexed, quickly straighten your knee. The therapist uses a strong push from the bottom of the foot to pop the cuboid bone back into position.
Although the therapy does not required to be audible to function, some patients may hear the bone pop into place.
The squeeze of the cuboid
If the cuboid syndrome discomfort is worse on the top of the foot, this strategy seems to function better.
- While the therapist holds the foot, flexes it, and pushes on the cuboid from the top of the foot, lie with your leg relaxed and off the edge of a table.
Manipulation of the cuboid bone is most effective when performed within 24 hours after the injury. If the pain has been there for a long time, the damage may necessitate numerous maneuvers. Manipulations, on the other hand, may be successful 90% of the time, according to a 1997 textbook.
If a person has arthritis, a broken bone, circulation or nerve difficulties, or bone disease, foot manipulation is not indicated.
- Additional cuboid syndrome therapies include:
- Using a cushion to stabilize the center of the foot's joints
- Using tape to keep the foot stable
- the use of orthotics to aid in appropriate alignment
- Taking anti-inflammatory drugs to help with pain and swelling
- massage of the calf muscles, which may be dragging on the cuboid bone
Surgery is only suggested for this problem if previous treatments have failed to provide relief.
Recovery
 |
| A foot brace may be advised for a person with cuboid syndrome to provide support. |
The time it takes to recover from an episode of cuboid syndrome is determined by a number of factors, including:
- how long has the person been injured
- whether it was brought on by a recent injury or grew over time
- if it was caused by another ailment, such as a sprained ankle
Most patients begin to feel relief within a few days if the original injury was minor. Healing time can take many weeks if a person has multiple injuries, such as an ankle sprain.
Physical therapy can help you recover fully from the affects of cuboid syndrome. It may also aid in the prevention of subsequent harm. The following are examples of physical therapy:
- bolstering the foot
- Stretching the muscles of the foot and calf
- balance training exercises
An ankle or foot brace may be recommended by a doctor or therapist in some circumstances to give support and stability for the foot and ankle.
Diagnosis
The foot is a complex, flexible, and long-lasting bodily element. It has approximately 100 muscles, ligaments, and tendons, as well as 28 bones and 30 joints.
The non-specific nature of cuboid syndrome pain and the intricate structure of the foot make this condition difficult to diagnose.
Even when cuboid syndrome is present, medical imaging procedures such as X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) may fail to detect any symptoms.
Cuboid syndrome can also seem like other foot disorders like a stress fracture or heel spurs.
Cuboid syndrome can occur in conjunction with a stress fracture in another area of the foot. Stress fractures of the cuboid bone, on the other hand, are uncommon, according to research, because the cuboid bone does not bear weight.
A doctor will conduct a comprehensive physical examination and analyze a person's medical history in order to make a diagnosis and determine the most effective treatment.
Factors that are at risk
Athletes, dancers, and others who put a lot of strain on their feet by participating in high-impact activities that require repetitive motion may be at the greatest risk of developing cuboid syndrome.
Additionally, because to the extra pressure imposed on the bones of the foot, someone who is extremely overweight is more likely to develop cuboid syndrome.
Outlook
People with cuboid syndrome usually have a fairly good prognosis. Most people can resume all activities after treatment, with relatively little chance of recurrence.
- Anatomy of the foot. (n.d.) https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/where-it-hurts/foot-heel-and-toe-pain/foot-anatomy.php
- Martin, C., Zapf, A., & Herman, D. C. (2017, July–August). Cuboid syndrome: Whip it good! Current Sports Medicine Reports, 16(4), 221 https://journals.lww.com/acsm-csmr/Fulltext/2017/07000/Cuboid_Syndrome___Whip_It_Good_.6.aspx
- Zirm, R. J. (1997). Cuboid syndrome http://0344936.netsolstores.com/pdfs/Update_1997/1997_27.pdf
Comments
Post a Comment