Definition

Mortons Toe is a common forefoot disorder where the secondtoe is longer than the Big Toe (the Hallux).

Cause

Mortons toe leads to excessive pressure on the secondmetatarsal head (behind the second toe at the ball- of-the-foot) resulting inpain similar to the discomfort associated with Metatarsalgia. The constantpressure placed on the longer second toe while walking or standing can lead tocallus formation under the second metatarsal head due to this excessivepressure.

Treatment andPrevention

Roper treatment of Morton's Toe starts with selecting properfootwear. Footwear with a high and wide toe box (toe area) is ideal fortreating this condition. It may be necessary to buy footwear a half size to asize larger to accommodate the longer second toe.

Orthotics that feature arch support to keep the footaligned, and a metatarsal pad to reduce stress on the ball-of-the-foot areoften recommended when treating this condition. Proper footwear combined with aeffective orthotic will provide relief from pain associated with Morton's Toe.