Capsulitis Causes & Treatment
What Is Capsulitis?
Capsulitis occurs when the fibrous joint capsule surrounding a joint becomes inflamed due to damage. This inflammation can disrupt the joint’s function, leading to pain, restricted movement, and an increased risk of injury or dislocation. The condition can affect any joint, compromising its stability and making it more susceptible to further damage.
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What Causes Capsulitis?
Capsulitis can affect any joint in the body, including those in the foot. While it’s not limited to the lower limbs, one common area for foot capsulitis is the joints at the ball of the foot, particularly the second toe in individuals with a longer second toe. These joints bear significant pressure during movement, especially when pushing off the ground with each step. Capsulitis in these joints can lead to pain and dysfunction, making walking and other activities challenging.
Who Is At Risk?
Women are more likely to suffer from capsulitis due to wearing high-heeled, narrow, or unsupportive footwear, which can place excessive pressure on the joints of the forefoot, rather than distributing the pressure evenly across the foot. Those with bunions are also more vulnerable, as the condition can shift pressure onto the lesser toes while walking. Other factors include tight calf muscles, an unstable arch, toe deformities like hammertoes, and regularly overloading the feet with high-impact activities like running. These conditions all contribute to an increased risk of developing capsulitis.
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Signs & Symptoms Of Capsulitis
Pain beneath or over a joint is a primary sign of capsulitis. You may also experience:
- Redness and warmth at the joint
- Swelling
- Pain when walking or putting pressure on the joint – often patients describe is as the feeling of walking on a pebble
- If the particular joint has been overloaded for some time, you may also have a callus on the bottom of the foot beneath the affected joint
If the capsulitis is severe and the joint becomes unstable or dislocated, you may notice that the position of the bones that comprise the joint may move out of place, which may leave the joint looking prominent (e.g. there being a noticeable space between the toes) and other characteristics.
Treatment & Prevention
Given that capsulitis is caused by overloading and straining the joint, relieving pressure from the affected area is essential. However, this doesn’t mean you need to stop walking entirely. We offer several treatment options to offload the joint while allowing you to remain mobile, including:
- Custom foot orthotics designed to deflect pressure and provide cushioning, helping distribute the load across other bones.
- Padding to reduce pressure on the joint.
- Strapping or splinting of the toes.
- Footwear recommendations to support joint offloading and proper alignment.
It’s important not to ignore capsulitis, as it is unlikely to improve on its own and may worsen over time. After managing the symptoms, we’ll work to prevent recurrence by identifying the underlying causes and contributing factors during a comprehensive lower limb assessment. Based on the findings, we will develop a tailored treatment plan, which may include physical therapy for muscle tightness or weakness, gait retraining, and continued use of supportive foot orthotics.
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