Podiatry Experts

The cuboid is a smaller cube shaped bone on the lateral side of the foot around about the center of the foot. The bone is a little larger than a regular gaming dice. The bone participates in three joints and works as a lever for the tendon of the peroneus longus tendon to pass around. Because this is a powerful muscle it could move the cuboid bone excessively if it is not secure and strain those joints that this bone is a part of causing a disorder known as cuboid syndrome. This is probably one of the more frequent causes of pain on the outside of the foot, especially in athletes. The pain usually begins quite minor and is located about where the cuboid bone is on the lateral side of the foot. The discomfort is only at first present during activity. If the activity amounts aren't decreased the problem will usually progress and then be present after activity in addition to during. At times the pain can radiate down into the foot. While this is the commonest cause of pain here, there are others like tendon problems and nerve impingements.

The primary treatment for cuboid syndrome is relief of pain. This is commonly done with a reduction in exercise levels and the using of taping to immobilise and support the bone. Mobilisation and manipulation is often used to treat cuboid syndrome. Over the long run foot insoles may be required to limit the motion and support the lateral arch of the foot. This helps make the cuboid more steady so it is an efficient fulcrum or pulley for the tendon to function under. Generally this approach works in the majority of cases. If it doesn’t there are no operative or more advanced treatments and a further decrease in activity levels is often the only solution.