Sesamoids are bones found inside tendons throughout the body that act as a
pulley which stabilize a joint. The knee cap or patella is an
example. In the foot, there are two sesamoids under the great
toe. Due to the ground pressure on the ball of the foot, there is a high
incidence of injury to one of the two of these sesamoids. There is movement of the sesamoids
beneath the 1st metatarsal head that occurs during any activity. When a sesamoid
is injured from acute or repetitive stress, a stress fracture may
occur within either sesamoid.
Sesamoiditis may be caused from acute or chronic stress placed on the
ball of the foot. In a majority of cases, there is little
swelling, redness or bruising to the skin. Throbbing and pain is
usually worse after increased activity and improved with rest.
- Shifting the weight off the painful
area using taping and padding
- High heels should be avoided
- Changing activity from weight-bearing
activities to swimming may eliminate some of the tenderness in
the foot
- Analgesics medications such as
ibuprofen and Tylenol are helpful during healing
If these conservative methods are
ineffective surgical excision of the fractured sesamoid is
sometimes required.
Return to Foot Topics
| 
