Injury Centre | Foot

 

Foot

 

Structure

The forefoot includes five metatarsal bones and phalanges ( toes). The first metatarsal bone bears the most weight and plays the most important role in propulsion in sports such as football and rugby and is therefore often prone to injury. It also provides attachment for several tendons. The second, third, and fourth metatarsal bones are the most stable of the metatarsals. They are well protected and have only minor tendon attachments and therfore not subjected to strong pulling impact.

Near the head of the first metatarsal, on the plantar surface of the foot, are two sesamoid bones. They are held in place by their tendons, and are supported by the ligaments.

Broken Metatarsal (Wayne Rooney/David Beckham!)

Metatarsal fractures are indicative of many foot injuries, particularly in football. Damaged Metatarsals have been prominent in many, high profile sports, with several athletes suffering Metatarsal breaks, including Rooney and Beckham. Injuries can be caused by direct contact, rotational forces or simply overuse.

The treatment of metatarsal fractures varies depending on the type and location of the injury. If the fracture is due to direct trauma and the fracture fragments are well aligned then treatment is typically:

• immobilisation in a removable plastic cast
• restricted weight bearing for 6 - 8 weeks

The same treatment is usually adequate for fractures of the other Metatarsal bones. However, stress fractures of the base of the Fifth Metatarsal sometimes show a poor healing capacity. For this reason, many orthopaedic consultants now favour surgical fixation.

Common Metatarsal Fracture Injury signs & symptoms:

• Severe foot pain.
• Swollen foot with bruising.
• Inability to walk on the broken foot.

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer

All content within sports injury insurance is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. Sports injury insurance is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of the injury centre. Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your health.