25 Jul Running with Cuboid Syndrome

Running with Cuboid Syndrome

In this week’s blog post from Alpine Foot & Ankle in Missoula, we discuss Running with Cuboid Syndrome.

Have you had a previous ankle sprain months ago and still experience pain on the outside part of your midfoot? Has the pain become so bad that bearing weight or simple movements are difficult? You may have a condition known as cuboid syndrome. This foot injury may not be as common as some other running pathologies, which leads to misdiagnosis and mistreatment. Cuboid syndrome, otherwise known as cuboid-peroneal subluxation or cuboid fault syndrome, occurs due to a previous inversion ankle sprain or injury to a joint in your foot called the calcaneo-cuboid joint. This joint in located between your heel bone (calcaneus) and cuboid bone which is located on the outside part of your midfoot.

When the peroneal tendon which travels under the cuboid bone become subluxed, or displaced, intense pain will likely be present on the outside part of your foot or it may even radiate above or below the site of injury. Runners will typically complain of pain and weakness in their foot during the push off phase. If you do not have considerable amounts of pain, you may notice a generalized/dull ache which may come and go at random times.

Regardless of the nature of your pain, this running injury needs to be addressed in order to get you back to level of activity before your injury. The diagnosis of this condition can be made by your podiatrist using x-rays or MRIs to evaluate damage within the calcaneo-cuboid joint, misalignment of the joint, and/or determine if the cuboid bone/peroneal tendon is subluxed (displaced from its normal anatomical location).

Treatment options:
– Rest, ice, elevation, and Ace bandage compression
– Physical manipulation using the ‘cuboid whip’ maneuver to place the cuboid and peroneal tendon back in their appropriate positions
– NSAID’s or steroids
– Cuboid pads placed in running sneakers
– Custom molded orthotics
– Corticosteroid injections into the affected area/joint
– Laser therapy

If you have recurring pain to the outside portion of your foot, Contact Alpine Foot & Ankle Clinic in Missoula to see how we can help you!