Pain on Top of the Foot in Runners

Top of foot pain is a condition that is being seen more frequently in athletes lately. It is more likely to occur in runners who use minimalist/barefoot footwear, but can occur in all types of running shoes and in non-athletes. The discomfort on the top of the foot is most likely due to a diagnosis, medically known as dorsal midfoot interosseous compression syndrome. This is a frequent cause of top of foot pain is due to higher loads trying to flex the forefoot on the rearfoot and there being some compression loading occurring at the top of the foot. The best way to manage this injury on the top of the foot, is an initial decrease in running levels; the use of taping to force down the foot to stop the compression; and the use of a rearfoot strike when running (you can go back to the forefoot striking gradually and slowly as the symptom get better). Foot orthoses with features that allow the forefoot to drop down are usually the better treatment over the long term if the tissues cannot adapt to the loads being placed on them when forefoot striking.