A common complaint among patients at Momentum Foot and Ankle Wellness Center is pain on the top of the foot. This is often right under your shoelaces. In many cases, pain on the top of the foot is due to an inflammation of the extensor tendons. The extensor tendons run along the top of your foot and give you the ability to straighten your toes. Inflammation of those tendons is called foot extensor tendonitis.
Extensor Tendonitis
Symptoms of Foot Extensor Tendonitis
If you think you are dealing with extensor tendonitis, you may feel pain on the top of your foot as you’re running.
You may see swelling on the top of your foot and a large bump somewhere along the tendon.
A simple test to determine if the pain on the top of your foot is a result of extensor tendonitis is to flex your foot downward and push down on your toes. (It’s more effective if you have someone else provide the resistance on your toes, rather than doing it yourself.) Then, try to pull your toes up against the resistance. If you’re feeling pain across the top of your foot or along the extensor tendon when you’re doing that, then you’re most likely dealing with extensor tendonitis.
Treatment for Foot Extensor Tendonitis
For mild extensor tendonitis, try stretching your calf muscle and reducing the inflammation with ice or anti-inflammatories. You can also try self-massage using a foam roller or other massage tool. Once the extensor tendon is no longer inflamed, you’ll be able to run relatively pain-free.
You can also change your shoe lacing pattern or loosen your laces slightly. To relieve pressure on the top of your foot, try lacing your shoes across the shoe tongue in a ladder pattern, rather than in a typical criss-cross pattern.
In some cases, I recommend custom-made orthotics or another treatment, especially if you’re dealing with fallen arches.
It’s usually safe to run through the pain if it is mild and it’s not affecting your gait. If you do find running to be too painful, even after changing your shoe lacing, take a couple of days off from running before you attempt it again.
Extensor tendonitis often clears up after a few days of rest, especially if you catch it early.
What’s If It’s Not Foot Extensor Tendonitis?
If your pain doesn’t go away after trying the above treatments, you may be dealing with a different injury or condition. Call Momentum Foot and Ankle at 402-315-4406 to schedule an appointment and determine the exact diagnosis and next steps.
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