Hallux rigidus is a condition that affects the big toe. When it can no longer move properly or at all because it has become stiff, rolling the foot becomes difficult and causes pain. Every step is perceived as painful, thereby reducing the quality of life.
Hallux rigidus is a condition that affects the big toe. When it can no longer move properly or at all because it has become stiff, rolling the foot becomes difficult and causes pain. Every step is perceived as painful, thereby reducing the quality of life. This condition arises from the deterioration of the joint cartilage in the big toe, leading to progressive stiffness and pain. It is a form of osteoarthritis that primarily affects the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe. In advanced cases, the pain can be constant and significantly limit mobility. Treatment strategies include conservative measures such as pain management and physiotherapeutic exercises, but in severe cases, surgical intervention may be necessary.
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The stiff big toe is a wear-and-tear condition that can also arise due to osteoarthritis. The painful loss of movement occurs in the metatarsophalangeal joint, which, due to swelling of the joint surfaces, causes pain and inflammation and can lead to complete stiffening.
Even minor injuries to the joint surface, as well as high stress, for example in athletes, and simultaneous misalignment in the rolling motion of the foot over a long period, can be possible causes of this condition.
Quite simply, the wrong running shoes can also be responsible. In many cases, however, the cause remains mysterious. It is believed that there are also genetic reasons for the development of Hallux rigidus.
Affected patients often adopt a protective posture while walking, inadvertently causing misalignment of adjacent joints. Apart from the fact that the base joint is sensitive to pressure and painful when swollen, it is not uncommon for functional disorders of the hip, knee joint, cervical and lumbar spine, and ankle joint to occur. Over time, the patient finds themselves in a vicious cycle with their complaints. Whenever they try to avoid one type of complaint, they end up in the next painful impairment.
First and foremost, you should switch to wearing shoes with a larger toe box. These reduce pressure on the forefoot and thus on the big toe. Orthopedic insoles also provide relief for the base joint of the toe. Medically supervised intake of anti-inflammatory medications is another way to counteract swelling and pain.
To restore the functionality of the base joint, surgery may be unavoidable depending on the severity and stage of the condition. In this procedure, the cartilage is smoothed, and a titanium plate or even an artificial base joint is inserted. Depending on the extent of the surgery and the method used, rehabilitation takes between four and fourteen days. However, it should always be attempted to treat hallux rigidus in Düsseldorf conservatively at first. This also includes physiotherapeutic measures.
If you recognize the aforementioned impairments in walking and running in yourself and desire a reliable diagnosis, feel free to place yourself in our experienced surgical hands.
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