Jennifer Garner, famous actress and a mother of three also has a physical flaw on her feet. It was spotted that she has an overlapping pinky on his right foot. Her overlapping toe is no serious cause of concern. It can be due to a genetic condition in which one of the five long bones of the foot is shorter, commonly known as brachymetatarsia. But what is brachymetatarsia?
Brachymetatarsia is a genetic condition where there is one or more overlapping toes which frequently involves the fourth metatarsal. It is also described as a floating toe. It is a growth disturbance and not a birth defect. It can occur in one foot or both feet and may occur in people with Down syndrome.
What are the causes of brachymetatarsia?
The most common cause of brachymetatarsia is hereditary though trauma can also play a role. This congenital disorder is attributed to the abnormal shortening of the metatarsal bone and it commonly affects women than men. To understand more about foot deformities, consult a podiatrist. The doctors of The Podiatry Group are podiatrists who specialize in helping people in foot disorders.
What are the signs and symptoms of brachymetatarsia?
Common reasons why patients tend to seek treatment for brachymetatarsia are:
- Brachymetatarsia is commonly associated with pain. A person with short toes usually hide their feet and also avoid being barefoot.
- Interference with walking activities
- Worsening problem
- Unsightly appearance
- Difficulty fitting shoes
- Pain at the ball of the foot
- Psychologically embarrassing
What are the non-surgical treatments for brachymetatarsia?
The treatment of this condition depends on the nature and the severity of the affected bone. These non-surgical treatment aims to decrease symptoms for brachymetatarsia:
- Wear supportive shoes
- Wear shoes with a wide toe box
- Spot stretch shoes
- Custom foot orthotics to align and support the foot. It also evenly distributes the weight across the foot.
- Use an arch support
- Modify activities
- Use splint or pads to prevent pressure in shoes
Meanwhile, surgical grafting of the bone is also an option in some cases. It appears that brachymetatarsia requires no treatment but conservative care.
The deformity is diagnosed by an x-ray and the visual inspection of the foot. If you are suffering from brachymetatarsia, you can ask help from your podiatrist to find the right treatment option based on your unique situation.
How to prevent brachymetatarsia?
It is stated that preventing brachymetatarsia is not possible because it is hereditary or traumatic, which means that you can be born with it or due to a trauma. Preventing the symptoms by getting early treatment is the possible way to prevent brachymetatarsia.
At The Podiatry Group, located in Jonesboro, Walnut Ridge, Pocahontas and Cherokee Village, we specialize in helping people find relief from foot disorders. To schedule an appointment call (870) 931-3338.