You have probably never heard of the Adductor Hallucis muscle, but it’s very possible that you have had pain in your foot or encountered someone with pain in their foot especially around their big toe. There is a chance that the pain you felt was a result of an injury to the Adductor Hallucis. The Adductor Hallucis is a significant muscle in the foot.
In this article, we will be discussing the anatomy of the muscle, the function of the muscle, how to prevent injury to this muscle and what to do if this muscle is injured.
Anatomy of Adductor Hallucis
The Adductor Hallucis (also known as the adductor obliquus hallucis) is a muscle that is found at the bottom of the foot. It divides into two heads.
One of the heads known as the oblique head attaches to the metatarsal bones of the second, third and fourth toe of the foot while the other head known as the transverse head attaches to the ligament of the second, third and fourth toe. This ligament is known as the metatarsophalangeal ligament.
The nerve supply of this muscle is from the lateral plantar nerve. This nerve allows the muscle to receive sensation from the body that is necessary for its control. The blood supply of the Adductor Hallucis muscle is from the lateral plantar artery.
Functions
As we have stated earlier, the muscle is an essential muscle in the foot, and some of its functions are described below:
- Movement Of The Big Toe: The Adductor Hallucis is the major muscle that is responsible for moving the big toe towards the rest of the other toes in the foot.
- Bending Of The Big Toe Downward: Try bending your big toe downward, you can see how easy it is? The Adductor Hallucis is the muscle responsible for that simple movement.
- Stabilization of The Foot: Although the Adductor Hallucis is not the only muscle responsible for the stabilization of the foot, it works in conjunction with other muscles of the foot to ensure this
Adductor Hallucis Injury – Causes
Causes include and are not limited to the following:
- Displacement of the ankle bones when you carry excessive weight.
- Longstanding, repetitive strain on the foot.
- Wearing improper footwear for an extended period.
- Running on surfaces that are not smooth or even.
Signs And Symptoms of Injury
Signs and symptoms that you may notice when you have Adductor Hallucis injury include:
- Pain on the inside half of the foot
- Inside half of the ankle in pain
- Pain when the big toe is touched
- Change in gait following an injury to the big toe
Adductor Hallucis Injury Treatment
- Medical History and Physical Examination: The Doctor will ask some questions of you about the signs and symptoms listed above and also physically examine you.
- Investigation: The Doctor will ask that some investigations be carried out such as X-ray or MRI to confirm his diagnosis.
- Treatment: The Doctor will place you on drugs (usually painkillers) to relieve any pain might be feeling. Also, the Doctor might refer you to a Physical Therapist for rehabilitation or a Surgeon for definitive treatment.
- Seeing a sports medicine professional is the best option for getting pain relief while avoiding drugs and surgeries.
Injury Prevention for Adductor Hallucis
- Always rest your feet after any stressful physical activity to avoid muscle overuse.
- Avoid running on uneven surfaces.
- Avoid wearing ill-fitting shoes. If you’re a runner, always use running shoes that suit your foot type.
- If the muscle is healthy strengthening the muscle is important
- Roll feet on golf balls daily
Contact 9INE POINT Health
9INE POINT Health will connect you with the best sports medicine healthcare providers that are local to you. Going to see a general family doctor will not cut it for soft tissue injuries. You need to see people who are trained and used to working with athletes that suffer these type of problems on a regular basis. Go to 9INE POINT Health now!
9INE POINT Health will allow you to search for providers based on the type of skill. For example, if you want a physical therapist that specializes in feet injuries to help with your Adductor Hallucis injury, you can find the best local options. Each provider is assigned a 9INE POINT Number that makes it easy for you to compare providers.
9INE POINT Health was created by 9INE POINT in '19 as a means to provide athlete-driven resources to "Protect Athletes' Minds, Body and Belly". As well as be a platform for healthcare providers and other specialists to display their knowledge.
