• Pajaczkowski JA

• Athletic Injuries
• Football / injuries
• Toes / injuries

Clinical features: The salient features include an insidious onset of pain in the first MTP joint which compromises forceful propulsion in the absence of ecchymosis and joint effusion. Range of motion may be restricted in both instances, however muscular palpation and resisted manual muscle testing will reproduce the patient's complaints and isolate the first dorsal interosseous muscle as the culprit versus the fibrous plantar plate and joint capsule.

Intervention and outcome: Treatment involves eliminating inflammation, reducing muscular hypertonicity, and restricting the offending activity. Active Release Technique® was utilized to remove adhesions and promote the restoration of normal tissue texture with excellent results. No other soft tissue treatment methods were implemented. Alternatively, other soft tissue techniques or modalities aimed at reducing inflammation and pain (i.e. ice, IFC, gentle stretching, etc. ...) may be useful.

Conclusion: Although the etiology and epidemiology of first dorsal interosseous myofasopathy mimicking turf-toe has yet to be elucidated the clinical implications regarding misdiagnosis and treatment are extremely important to allopathic and chiropractic practitioners alike.

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