Hi, Angela--so sorry about your foot problems. Another chiropractor (who also plays sand volleyball) said this:
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Regarding your friend's injury, I can tell you toes are commonly hurt on the volleyball court. In the sand, it's usually a hyperplantarflexion injury of the great (and sometimes lesser) toes, caused by 'rolling' over the toe while pushing off with the foot. This is informally known as 'sand toe', which is the opposite of the 'turf toe' that football players get (a hyperdorsiflexion injury).
As far as the second or third toes overlapping, I would first want to know if the great toe is aligned properly. Specifically, does the great toe angle outward (toward the other toes)? If so, this is called hallux valgus (which can lead to bunion formation), and would be a great toe problem -- not a lesser toe problem. This is also commonly caused by wearing narrow-toed shoes.
If the great toe is normally aligned, then it may be a problem with the lesser toes -- either a ligamentous, tendinous or dislocation injury of the involved toes. All of these are easy to discern during examination, but it's hard for me to tell which she has based on what she's written.
A temporary solution may be to buddy-tape the involved toes (tape them each to adjacent toes) while playing. This will help stabilize them during movement, and may be part of her ultimate treatment plan.
Hope this helps, and tell your friend I'd be glad to talk more with her, either by phone or email.
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Regarding buddy-taping the toes, you've probably read this Podiatrist's site:
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Letter from patient: My latest trick I stumbled across through a recommendation by a salesman at a surgical supply house where I was trying to track down some foot pads or insoles, has been wrapping Elastikon tape around the metatarsal region a few times (snug, but not too tight).
Podiatrist's answer: The original problem is a weight bearing one, that is, the second metatarsal is bearing more weight than it was designed for. Redistributing this weight is the long term goal. (...)
Another method of getting weight and pressure off of the 2nd metatarsal is to change exercise habits. Repetitive stress activities involving the forefoot make matters worse. (...)
I have not tried the Elastikon trick but I will. (...)
Metatarsalgia |
PS: Remember, sand volleyball is a metaphor for life--how you solved this problem can be a chapter in YOUR BOOK!
Best wishes,
Megan