Sesamoiditis refers to irritation or inflammation affecting the sesamoid bones beneath the big
toe joint. These small bones are embedded within the tendons under the first
metatarsophalangeal joint and play an important role in absorbing pressure during walking and
running.
Because the sesamoids bear significant load during movement, irritation may develop when
excessive pressure is placed on the forefoot.
People with sesamoiditis may experience:
Symptoms may gradually worsen with activity.
Sesamoiditis often develops when repetitive stress affects the sesamoid bones.
Contributing factors may include:
At Absolute Footcare, sesamoid pain is assessed through a gait and biomechanical
assessment.
This allows us to evaluate how pressure is distributed across the forefoot and identify factors
that may be increasing load beneath the big toe joint.
Treatment depends on the underlying cause identified during your assessment.
Possible treatments may include:
If you are experiencing persistent pain beneath the big toe joint, the best first step is to arrange
a gait and biomechanical assessment.