Morton’s Foot Structure

Toes Are Not Created Equally

Relative length in toes is, well, based on our relatives. Many sites related to podiatry, shoes, reflexology, and ethnicity illustrate this. In addition, they explore the differences in foot structure and toe length based on your ancestry.

Morton’s Foot structure, or “Greek Foot” typically has a second toe that is longer than the Big Toe.

The Science – More than Meets the Eye

Many studies like this one from the National Institutes for Health explore the details of Morton’s Foot Structure. This other study has a case history of how massage reduced pain.

Metatarsals are the long bones inside your foot that extend from the bones around the heel to the base of the toe. In these photos, you can see that this structure is really about the second metatarsal length, not the second toe’s length.

In these cases, you can see that the space between the 1st and 2nd toe is deeper, even though the second toe is not longer.

The Common Complaint

Irritation of the nerve between the 3rd and 4th metatarsal is commonly known as Morton’s Neuroma.

My experience with this has varied in symptoms and results. I’ve seen patients with some itching sensations that respond well to bodywork. I’ve seen patients who get quick results with a splint. Others have struggled with unsuccessful approaches for years. Some have had injections to quiet the nerve directly. For some people, this can lead to surgery. Results vary dramatically.

This study explores how relevant the metatarsalgia is to the bone structure of the metatarsals. It also explores non-surgical and surgical options for treatment. Finally, this study talks about the probabilities.

Morton’s Pain, Callouses and
Trigger Points in the Foot

Motton’s Foot structure creates a set of callouses on the bottom of the foot. They can help you verify the condition.

The callouses vary a little bit. However, like in this photo, they are common along

• the medial aspect of the 1st toe
• the medial aspect of the ball of the foot (head of the 1st metatarsal)
• along the head of the 2nd metatarsal
• along the distal end of the lesser toes.

These callouses help determine if the foot pain is related to this foot structure. Additionally, toe length, as we saw in the previous section, isn’t the best means of assessment. However, lifting the toes and checking the heads of the metatarsals at the base of the toe is reliable.

Intrinsic foot muscles produce similar pain patterns between the metatarsals. Consequently, I’ve gotten relief for many patients with pain between the 3rd and 4th metatarsal by working the joints and muscles of the foot.

Resulting Trigger Points in the Leg andHip

Much has been written about how this structure perpetuates trigger points in the leg and hip. Travell wrote a notable section in her Trigger Point Manuals on the resulting problems in gait. The grid below has a list of the related posts on my blog.

In summary, the research shows that the foot rocks as the base of the second toe strikes the floor before the base of the first toe. This instability often perpetuates several problems from callouses to hip and knee pain.

Feet First

Briefly, let me say that I’ve successfully treated many hip problems by working on their feet. Some of those cases were related to Morton’s Foot Structure, and some were not. The proprioceptors in the joints of the feet provide feedback that changes trigger points activity in the hip. To be more specific, I can test the range of motion in the hips and see that it improves after working on the feet.

In addition, those cases often had an ongoing problem. Many times, there were existing hip and leg problems that lingered. This opened the door for foot-related issues to aggravate and perpetuate those hip and leg problems.

Fending off Problems Related to Morton’s foot structure

This structure can lead to lasting problems that create expensive and tedious treatments. My father had this foot structure. He spent lots of time and money working callouses, getting special shoes, the podiatrist, and, eventually, surgery.

Here are a few things you can do to stay out of the woods on this:

Massage helps

Get regular foot massages. This does a lot to keep those foot joints from becoming fixated. In turn, this keeps the muscles working.

Foot Pads Stabilize Your Stride

There are many splints available on Amazon and at your local drugstore. Not every splint/pad works for every foot. So, don’t be discouraged if the first one doesn’t work. Instead, try quite a few before you go to something more expensive. Pads like this are inexpensive and get great reviews.

Exercise Those Foot Muscles

Get out of your shoes. Feet are made to get diverse input, so joints stay mobile, and stabilizers develop. Unfortunately, many people develop stiff, problematic feet because they support them too much. Think about it. Would you expect your back to get stronger and more flexible if you wore a brace all the time? At least find shoes that allow your feet to be more mobile and seek some uneven ground.

Shoes and Stability

Often, foot, ankle, and low-leg problems continue because your shoes are improperly tied. This solution is called “runner’s loop” or “heel lock.” It uses those extra eyelets in athletic footwear to stabilize your foot in the shoe.

Check out this video. I’ve used this technique for years, and it really works. The foot feels more solidly secured in the shoe with less pressure on the instep.

Alas, if your shoes are worn, replace them. Many hip, knee, ankle, and foot problems continue to be aggravated by shoes that are loose or have worn soles.

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