Attention dancers, runners, and triathletes: Pain in the outer part (lateral) of your foot could be a result of Cuboid Syndrome. The cuboid is one of the small bones of the midfoot that can lose normal mobility as a result of an injury. A common complaint is pain with push-off along the outside of your foot, just behind your 4th toe and lateral foot pain.

So how do you know if your cuboid is involved in your foot pain? Easy, follow your 4th toe towards the back of your foot, then squeeze the bone along the arch. Look at the picture above to find out where the cuboid is located. Compare it to the other side and if it’s pretty tender, then you most probably have a cuboid issue.

Common injuries resulting in cuboid involvement include:
Ankle inversion sprain
Ballet dancers on Pointe
Repetitive strain from runners or track athletes

Treatment includes mobilization of of the cuboid, sling taping technique, and correcting any lower leg muscle imbalances. Talk to your PT today if you think you have a cuboid issue. Let me know if you have any questions,
Thanks,
Ed Deboo, PT

Physical Therapy Bellingham, WA