Morton's Foot?

[Bike Chick]

Glad this thread popped back up too Knot. I had thought to revive it myself because I had something to add.

I had been seeing a podiatrist since September for what he finally diagnosed as Morton's Foot. First he diagnosed a stress fracture (which I'm not sure now that I had), told me to stop running for 6 weeks and sold me a very expensive pair of orthontics. Then he told me he had never heard of Morton's Foot or Morton's Toe and told me I was confusing it with Morton's Neuroma, then a month later tells me I had Morton's Toe, gives me a cortisone shot, talks to me about surgery and tells me to stop running again. That was January and my last visit to him. I went to see a chiropractor instead who is amazing. The adjustments, therapy and pressure point massage have fixed the problem--without drugs or surgery! I'm training for a half marathon and up to running 5 miles and the foot is doing fine (it's everything else that hurts --Ha! Ha!)

Oh, and by the way, the chiropractor told me what my problem was the minute he saw my foot and then looked at the x-ray. He also gave me the same exercises to do that Knot had suggested. The podiatrist told me to never, ever walk barefoot and not to even put shoes on that didn't have the orthontics in them. Gee whiz!

[OakLeaf]

The other thing I've been doing, self-prescribed, is working to strengthen the muscles in the anterior lower leg. As my calves loosen up, it's become clear that my calves were doing all the work holding me upright in a slight forward lean, and that the dorsiflexor muscles are extremely weak. Right now I can work the muscles to fatigue without resistance, just sitting at the computer like right now.

[Morticia]

Hello!

I just signed up to this forum just to post in this thread. I am hoping any of the people who started to wear some sort of correction are still subscribed to this thread . If so, please, please respond!

Anyone else with Morton's foot who is wearing or who has tried correction, I would really appreciate hearing from you too.

Did the correction work long term?
Did you continue biking/running long term?

or anything else.

For me, I did a couple of "double centuries" from Ottawa to Kingston return about 20 years ago and never had a problem. I now do a spin class about once a week and no problem.

But I took up Ballet & Modern dance a couple of years ago and have discovered I have Morton's feet and have a big problem now!. Ballet & Modern dance would be considered like barefoot running because we are basically in bare feet. Except with ballet, the slippers have a pleat gathering on the bottom of the slipper which is about 1/8 inch thick so it is like dancing on a couple of quarters stacked right under the second metatartsal joint. Ouch! It doesn't hurt non-Mortoners because they don't step on the pleat but for people like me it's like stepping on a stone.

Now even walking barefoot hurts a bit- but I am hoping it is just temporarily swollen.

So I am very interested in any longer (or shorter) term stories. I have researched it all but have not come across and long term feedback. Do people have success with the corrections and then just stop talking about it or do they give up ?

I have been to 5 experts so far. 2 say orthotics and don't waste time on exercises. 2 say exercises & training the big toe and possibly orthotics.

thanx & I look forward to hearing from you!

[OakLeaf]

I've been taking Knott's advice and so far it's working out great.

Foot exercises (also hip exercises) - yoga, plus some isolation exercises.

Ditched the custom orthotics (and all other medial arch support).

Metatarsal domes in my running shoes for the time being, but not in my other shoes. I foresee the day when I won't need those - I can walk and stand for hours in flat shoes now - but I can't run without them, yet. (Actually it's been months since I tried, but I'm not changing anything until after my second marathon, October 17.)

Shoes long enough for my toes (and also wide enough for my forefeet, but that's not necessarily related).

General postural work to correct the forward lean that resulted from the unstable base. (yoga again, especially the backbends, and just really being aware of my posture as often as I can).

None of this is an overnight miracle, but I expected it to take some time and work. Learning that my body can heal itself if I learn to stop hurting it ... priceless.

[Morticia]

Thanx Oakleaf! I was hoping you were still around

I am also wearing metatarsal pads.

I really hesitate to build up the area under my big toe & big toe joint as the whole Morton's foot theory suggests. I don't know why those Morton's inserts aren't mainstream- why just sold on an internet site?. And theories are just that- theories.

Which is why I am hoping to hear from someone who has worn them long term.

Have you been successful in training yourself to step down and toe off on your big toe?

Is your first toe knuckle closer to your body than the second toe knuckle? You can see by putting your foot over a tennis ball to make the knuckles show.

Good luck with your Marathon!! I did a couple of 10k's in the past- that was enough for me!!

[OakLeaf]

Have you been successful in training yourself to step down and toe off on your big toe?

I'm training myself not to toe off at all. My calves were sooooo over-stressed. I'm getting there....

Flexibility in my feet is/was a huge issue. When I started I couldn't even begin to get the head of my first MT on the ground with my ankles neutral. The stretches Knott recommended are helping, and so is rolling out the trigger points in my feet on a spiky stick or spiky ball. That's one thing I forgot to mention in the last post that has been really, really helpful.

Is your first toe knuckle closer to your body than the second toe knuckle?

Yep, I thought that was the definition of Morton's foot.

Good luck with your Marathon!!

Thank you! I'm feeling a little odd about it right now so the encouragement is welcome.

[Morticia]

I'm training myself not to toe off at all. My calves were sooooo over-stressed. I'm getting there....

hmmm... there is a slight forward lean in ballet. I'm confused. but thanx for mentioning this. My calves are chronically tight.

Flexibility in my feet is/was a huge issue. When I started I couldn't even begin to get the head of my first MT on the ground with my ankles neutral.

Wow, that`s huge! For me, I have to keep my 1st MT head on the ground when in "demi pointe" (tip toes). That is how this whole thing started for me, I would roll outwards off my first MT onto my second.

The stretches Knott recommended are helping,
...

ok, so just to make sure, this is the recommended:

(Oakleaf, this is what you were asking for to bring the 1st met head into contact with the ground)

Dropped Met Head Program
To be done over the course of 6 weeks, and maintained there-after.

Consists of two parts: first stretching, then strengthening. Done in that order for every session.

Stretch by folding your foot like a taco shell. Hold your bare foot in both hands. One hand on the left, one hand on the right. Thumbs parallel on top. Line up your fingertips between the 1st and 2nd met heads or on the 2nd met head, whichever feels better. Press down with the heels of your thumbs while you press up with your fingertips. You are essentially folding your foot in half lengthwise. (restoring your metatarsal arch and then some) Hold for 5 seconds. Do 10 times in a row.

Strengthen by working the muscles of the forefoot that support your metatarsal arch. Make a fist with your toes as tight as you can. Hold it for 5 seconds. Splay your toes out as wide as you can. Hold it for 5 seconds. Do 10 times in a row.

Week 1: do the session 3 times a day, spread through-out the day. (morning, noon, and evening for example)

Weeks 2-6: do the session 6 times a day, spread throughout the day. (every 2 or 3 hours, for example)

Maintain by doing however many sessions you feel you need to keep your met arch lively.

Give your feet a happy environment by wearing shoes that suit your particular flavor of foot, and insoles that support your arches INCLUDING the metatarsal arch (buy self stick met arch supports if you have to).

If you also pronate, ask a PT or trainer to help you with your pronation. Pronation has so many causes and so many things to fiddle with up and down the kinetic chain that it is pretty hard to deal with on a message board. They might also want to post your insoles, which is fine, but keep the met arch supports and keep working on your foot strength. As your foot gets stronger and your leg control gets better you'll need less and less correction, and your PT or trainer will trim the posting down until you are neutral.

I don`t really feel anything when doing the taco shell stretch.. do you feel anything?

.....and so is rolling out the trigger points in my feet on a spiky stick or spiky ball. That's one thing I forgot to mention in the last post that has been really, really helpful.

just fyi, I had a bit of plantar faciitis in my other foot and used the underside of a car mat (the removeable mat ) laid over a hard block, and OMG it was good! I haven`t been using it for this- didn`t know, so thanx.
One of my PT`s also has me doing a `bowstring stretch`. You sit down, grab foot in hand, bend the big toe and then press in on the flexor hallux longus tendon.

Yep, I thought that was the definition of Morton's foot.

I just wanted to make sure- there is confusion out there- it is possible to have a longer second toe but not have a Morton's foot. So I am hopeful then because you have a real Morton's foot. I do too.

Thank you! I'm feeling a little odd about it right now so the encouragement is welcome.

hmmm, why odd, I think it is great