What is Cuboid Syndrome?
Cuboid syndrome is a condition where the cuboid bone, located on the outer side of the foot just in front of the heel bone, becomes partially dislocated or misaligned. This can lead to pain, discomfort and difficulty with walking.
Why have I got Cuboid Syndrome?
Injury to the cuboid bone, causing it to move out of alignment, can be the result of a sudden trauma or as a result of repetitive activities which cause smaller traumas that can grow to cause irritation. The most common causes are:
- Injury as a result of sudden impacts, twists and sprains which lead to pain and instability in the foot
- Repetitive stress as a result of activities such as running, jumping and or prolonged periods of standing
- Wearing shoes that lack support. This can increase the risk of misalignment as they fail to adequately support the foot
- Structural issues with the foot such as flat feet or high arches can make the cuboid bone more susceptible to displacement due to abnormal pressure distribution
- Abnormal gait or movement patterns can result in extra stress on the cuboid bone contributing to a misalignment
How do you treat Cuboid Syndrome?
There is no single test for Cuboid Syndrome as such but if your podiatrist puts pressure on this area, it will definitely become clear if this is the source of the pain!
The most effective form of treatments for cuboid syndrome are:
- Rest and ice treatments and elevation of the foot initially
- Prescribed exercises by your podiatrist to stretch the calf muscles in order to reduce the pressure and realign the cuboid
- Bespoke orthotics which will help manage the mechanics of the foot and distribute the loading more effectively in order to reduce the potential for reoccurrence
- Physical therapy may be prescribed to regain strength, range of motion and flexibility
