Tarsal-metatarsal joints connect the bones of the tarsal and metatarsals. They come in three varieties: connecting the cuboid and 4-5th metatarsal bones, connecting the intermediate and lateral sphenoid bone with the second and third metatarsal bones, connecting the medial sphenoid and first metatarsal bone.
The joint, which connects the medial sphenoid and the first metatarsal bone, is formed by articular surfaces that have a slightly pronounced saddle shape, the rest of the tarsal-metatarsal joints have flat articular surfaces. The joint gap line in the described joints is uneven due to the fact that the second metatarsal bone is longer than the rest, and the sphenoid bone located on the side is slightly protruding in comparison with the anterior cuboid bone.
Ligaments, their structure and location
The joint capsule of each tarsal-metatarsal joint is attached along the edges of the composite cartilage and is supported by ligaments:
- Interosseous wedge-metatarsals connecting the metatarsal bones with the sphenoid bones. The medial ligament connects the base of the second metatarsal bone with the medial sphenoid bone and represents the key of the joints between the metatarsal and tarsal. These joints are inactive.
- Interosseous metatarsal located between the bases of the metatarsal bones.
- Plantar tarsal-metatarsal located on the surface of the sole.
- Dorsal tarsal-metatarsal located on the dorsal surfaces of the joints.
The anatomy of the tarsal-metatarsal joints is unique.
Possible diseases
Soreness in the metatarsal zone of the foot can be a sign of a number of pathologies, a consequence of overwork and trauma, and such symptoms do not always disappear without medical intervention. The human foot is actively involved in motor activity, so it experiences significant overload, it accounts for the whole body weight, and, as you know, even minor inflammation processes require rest. Unfortunately, not everyone can reduce the load or provide rest to the damaged joints of the foot, and therefore a slight soreness often develops into advanced diseases, for example, fasciitis, bursitis, arthrosis, flat feet.
Overwork and tight shoes
Acute soreness can also occur due to the banal overwork and wearing tight shoes. In the absence of attention to problem areas, these factors can provoke dangerous violations.
The metatarsus, which the tarsal-metatarsal joint connects to its bones, is located in the center of the foot. Therefore, it has the function of distributing the load, maintaining the arch of the legs in good condition, and cushioning. In this regard, these joints experience a significant load and are highly susceptible to inflammation.
One of the causes of inflammation can be flat feet.
Flat feet
This pathology among the diseases that provoke foot pain is the most common. Flat feet are affected by children and adults, while the disease can vary in shape and manifest itself with various symptoms. The main factors that provoke flat feet are:
- Obesity. With excess weight, the load on the feet increases, the metatarsal structure suffers, under the weight of the body, flattening of the arches of the foot begins.
- Foot injuries (tears and sprains, dislocations, fractures).
- Heredity, congenital pathological changes that are the cause of connective tissue weakness. As a result, cartilage, joints, ligaments suffer.
- Wearing uncomfortable shoes (heeled, narrow-toed).
- Excessive load on the legs, as a result of which the foot is under strain for a long time.
Quite often, the disease occurs under the influence of several factors.
Flatfoot therapy involves wearing individually selected orthopedic shoes, reducing the load on the legs, using massage and performing exercise therapy. Quite often, physiotherapeutic procedures allow eliminating painful symptoms.
The more common causes of tarsal-metatarsal joint pain are pathologies - arthritis, osteoporosis, arthrosis.
Arthrosis
This pathology is a disease that has a degenerative nature, in which cartilage tissue begins to collapse. As a complication, the process of inflammation of the soft tissues surrounding the joints often develops.
Osteoarthritis can develop against the background of foot trauma, excessive loads. In some cases, arthrosis develops due to temperature changes, when a person's legs often sweat and get cold. Also, pathology can occur as a result of wearing shoes that squeeze the forefoot.
Therapy of arthrosis is primarily aimed at eliminating inflammation, for which the patient is recommended to use Movalis, Nimesulide, Ibuprofen and other medicines from the non-steroidal type of anti-inflammatory drugs. Physiotherapy and such procedures as phonophoresis, drug electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, and UHF are no less effective.
In addition, to protect cartilage from destruction, the use of chondroprotectors, calcium and vitamin D preparations is indicated.
Why does the tarsal-metatarsal joint still hurt?
Arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease. Often, pathology develops against a background of metabolic disorders, infectious lesions, gout. Often, the disease persecutes people over 50 years old, and there is a defeat of symmetrically located joints.
Experts consider flatfoot as a predisposing factor for the development of arthritis, as it causes metabolic disturbances, an increase in the load on some areas of the foot. Also, the cause may be once received injuries.
The main symptom of arthritis is stiffness of movements, manifested in the morning.
In order to avoid the development of complications and disability, a doctor should be consulted if the first clinical symptoms of inflammation in the joints occur.
Treatment of tarsal-metatarsal joints with arthritis involves reducing the load on the affected joints, stopping inflammation. Of no small importance is the therapy of concomitant pathologies - gout, rheumatism, flat feet.
Among chronic joint pathologies, osteoporosis is also distinguished, which is associated with the destruction of bone tissue and is manifested by soreness in the metatarsal zone.
Other reasons
In addition to these pathologies, there are several dozen diseases that can affect the metatarsus and tarsal-metatarsal joints. The acute causes are injuries - cracks, fractures, sprains, dislocations. Often, different objects fall on your feet, they can be injured during sports. Trauma therapy is carried out by traumatologists who determine options for limiting foot mobility to eliminate pain and accelerate the healing of damage.
With the appearance of pain in the lower part of the metatarsus, the development of plantar fasciitis, a pathology that affects the plantar fascia, can be suspected. Calcaneal spurs, injuries, heavy loads can cause inflammation.
Conclusion
Thus, we can conclude that soreness in the tarsal-metatarsal joints can occur for many reasons. That is why you should not engage in self-treatment, it is important to consult a doctor who, using modern diagnostic methods, will determine the root cause of the pain and select the most suitable treatment technique. Otherwise, there is a likelihood of developing complications, moreover, some pathologies can provoke a strong deterioration, up to the loss of mobility and disability.
We examined the structure of the tarsal-metatarsal joints and possible pathologies.