Jogger's Foot - Another Cause of Heel and Foot Pain Common in Distance Runners

Jogger’s Foot, also known as Medial Plantar Neuropraxia, is an uncommon cause of foot and heel pain for the average person but does happen more frequently in long distance runners. Specifically, this condition is a nerve entrapment of the Medial Plantar Nerve along the inside portion of the arch of the foot. The most common entrapment site for this nerve occurs where the flexor digitorum longus and flexor hallicus longus muscles cross called the “Knot of Henry”.

Often times pain along the arch of the foot is simply diagnosed as Plantar Fasciitis but with Jogger’s Foot the pain will be accompanied with occasional weakness of the foot or toes and increased burning along the inside portion of the heel. A specific nerve stretch can also help determine if the pain is due to an entrapment of the medial plantar nerve.

The two most common causes of Jogger’s Foot are flat feet and a poorly fit orthotic. If long distance runner’s with flat feet are not in correct shoes the repetitive stretching of this nerve can be the cause of the pain. Also if the orthotic is slightly off, it may compress the nerve and may need to be replace or altered to avoid irritation of the nerve.

Treatment can consist of many things including but not limited to; rest, manual therapy (ART nerve release), rehab exercises, orthotics, nerve flossing exercises, cortisone injections or for severe cases surgical release of the nerve entrapment.

Foot pain is commonly treated in our office due to our training in nerve entrapments, soft tissue release and gait analysis. Please feel free to call or email with questions to 615-302-4747 or info@inmotionsjc.com. With the marathon and running season being in full swing, good luck and take care of your feet – hopefully they will carry you to the finish line First!