Pain at the front of the foot

When the feet are overtaxed, they react with pain when standing and walking. Women in particular suffer frequent pain in the front part of the foot. Because of the complex interaction of bones, muscles, nerves and tendons, it is often difficult to determine a single cause. A natural rollover of the foot is possible in the kyBoot/on the kyBounder and the foot can recover from the pain. The muscles and tendons are gently stretched and strengthened, and the joints mobilised.

Definition

Disorders of the bones of the middle and front of the foot, the toe joints, the soft tissue and the toenails can all lead to pain in the front of the foot. In rare cases, referred pain ( such as peripheral nerve compression syndrome or radiating pain syndrome) can be projected onto the front of the foot.

Causes

Possible causes:

• disorders of the bones of the middle and front of the foot, the toe joints, the soft tissue and the toenails
• foot malpositions or weak foot musculature: ‘Flatfoot’, ‘forefoot muscle weakness’, ‘flattened transverse arch’, ‘splayfoot’
• weak connective tissue
• high heels
• narrow, sturdy shoes
• severe loading
• being significantly overweight
• neurological: ‘Morton’s neuroma’, ‘forefoot neuralgia’

Possible causes of front-foot pain in the kyBoot:

• Initial reactions in the kyBoot: overtaxing of the forefoot musculature or the transverse arch
• muscle tension: ‘clenching the toes’ (usually done unconsciously to stabilize the foot)

Long-term consequences

If no active therapy is undertaken to correct the foot malposition, it will become increasingly pronounced, leading to pain and complaints in other joints, such as the knees or hips, or the back.

Conventional therapy

• orthopaedic shoes with broad toe box
• special insoles
• truss pads (elevation at the forefoot built into the shoe)
• injection of a local anaesthetic and/or cortisone treatment
• regular foot physiotherapy exercises
• therapy
• operation

Foot malpositions are usually treated conventionally with passive insoles. These sometimes improve the symptoms in the short term, but weaken the foot musculature and make the foot malposition more pronounced in the long term.

The kybun principle of operation – being proactive

The primary purpose of the kyBoot is to shift the forces that would otherwise be exerted on the back, hips and knees onto the feet. This relieves the back and the joints and relaxes tense muscles and increases the load on the feet. This is the correct thing to do because the primary forces should be in the feet when standing and walking.
In the kyBoot, your foot can move naturally in all directions, training the core, stabilizing musculature of each foot equally and improving foot mobility. The foot becomes more robust and stable, and foot malpositions that have arisen due to weak musculature are improved or corrected completely.

Only active, frequent foot training can counteract front-foot pain in the long term. Insoles provide only short-term improvement because they passively support the feet. They do not strengthen the feet; on the contrary, they continuously weaken the feet while overtaxing other joints.

A well-trained foot musculature and good foot mobility are extremely important with all foot problems. For those suffering from Morton’s neuroma, the kyBoot/kyBounder have the following effects on the body:

• The kyBoot/kyBounder provide a challenge for the core foot musculature, leading to a correction/stabilization of the arch. This relieves the nerve affected by Morton’s neuroma.
• Improved foot mobility creates more space for the affected nerves, which should decrease existing pain.
• By stimulating the foot sensors and foot sensitivity, the kyBoot helps the nerves to recover from the stress (pressure).

Initial reactions

Specific initial reactions with front-foot pain:
Those with sensitive forefeet (which can result from splayfoot, for instance) or who wear orthopaedic, supporting insoles in their conventional shoes may have reactions in the beginning because the kyBoot greatly challenges the forefoot musculature, which may become inflamed if not enough breaks are taken early on. The load has the most extreme effect when walking uphill because it is particularly great then. If the user is not yet accustomed to this, pain may develop at first, even if they have never had such a reaction before.

The pain indicates the body’s weakest point, providing valuable information. In the beginning, as an alternative to taking breaks, we advise inserting an insole into the kyBoot that is slightly stiff in front and that prevents excessive movement in the front of the foot. These ‘forefoot stiffening’ insoles can be purchased from shoe shops and will probably solve these initial problems.

Click here for the general initial reactions experienced by kyBounder and kyBoot beginners: Initial reactions

kybun exercises

For information about the special kyBoot exercises or the basic kyBounder exercises , please click here: kybun exercises

The following adaptations to the standard implementation of interval walking are important for those suffering from Morton’s neuroma:

1. avoid excessive strain on the forefoot (the arch is pushed down by a forefoot load) - take shorter steps
2. make sure you perform the slow exercises a bit faster to avoid irritation
3. alternate exercises as directed

Application tips

• For those with greatly flattened transverse arches, we recommend using stiff, thin insoles for the forefoot area in the kyBoot if pain develops. This reduces the softness of the kyBoot sole slightly and gives the front of your foot a little added support.
• If the hard insole for the front of the foot from a shoe shop does not improve things, we recommend alternating between wearing the kyBoot and ‘normal, hard shoes with insoles’ as your ‘active shoe’. This allows your foot to recover from active training in the kyBoot before front-foot pain develops.
• Be sure to maintain an upright body posture and foot position in the kyBoot/on the kyBounder. Look straight ahead and correct any lateral/medial rolling in the kyBoot.
• Your feet should be able to move freely in the kyBoot! Shoe size and model can make a critical difference. It is normal to feel less stable in the kyBoot than you would in ‘normal’ shoes at first. Take your time when trying the kyBoot on; your local kybun specialists will be pleased to assist you. Relax your toes in the kyBoot/on the kyBounder (it is common to unconsciously clench them)
• Roll forward naturally over the entire foot (from the heel to the push-off with the big toe).
• Avoid taking steps that are too long so as to ensure that the joints bear a more correct axial load, which is less taxing. This also makes it easier to balance on the kyBoot sole.
• Some people feel too unstable in the kyBoot. In this case, we advise you to try various kyBoot models; some models have a higher cut and provide more stability. We also recommend the second-generation sole to these customers. It is a little wider in the mid-foot area, making you feel safer while walking (ask for advice in a specialised kybun shop).
• If you still feel too unsafe walking in the kyBoot, we advise using the kyBounder. The kyBounder is available in three different thicknesses. This allows you to choose the thickness that is most comfortable for you (the thicker, the less stable, and the more intensive the training). You can also hold on to a fixed object if you need additional support when using the kyBounder.

Opinions/customer testimonials

"kyBoot help you keep balance and activate your muscles, from your toes to your back: they are helpful in the treatment of pain in the heels and forefeet, and are a method of choice to support the treatment of pain in the Achilles tendon and back."
Dr. Markus Müller, specialist in orthopaedic surgery, foot surgery practitioner, Luzern, Switzerland