Loss of Motion

The Toe: Metatarsophalangeal Joint (MPJ): Arthrofibrosis and Loss of Motion

Walking. Running. Playing football, tennis and other sports. All of these propelling movements require a full range of motion in the big toe.

The first metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ) is the joint at the base of the big toe. A smoothly working MPJ is essential for a normal gait.

Following surgery or injury such as “turf toe,” patients often develop arthrofibrosis in the MPJ — an abnormal grown of fibrous “scar tissue” around the joint — which leads to loss of motion.

Inability to freely move the MPJ causes people to compensate by limping, which further stresses the joints above, from the ankle all the way to the spine.

“For therapy, we would prefer to restore lost motion, rather than accommodate for it.”

Robert B. Weinstein, DPM

Treatment

The Metatarsophalangeal Joint (MPJ): Motion Without Surgery

Loss of motion isn't unusual in the first few weeks after injury or surgery. But as many as 20 percent of patients suffer from activity-limiting motion loss well beyond a few weeks.

Historically, there have been two options available to treat severe motion loss - manipulation under anesthesia and surgical scar tissue removal - and both require expensive and risky hospital operating room procedures.

With mechanical therapy using ERMI devices, patients avoid these interventions all together. Working at home, a patient can stretch out even the stiffest MPJ with rapid, lasting results.

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Products

The Metatarsophalangeal Joint (MPJ): In-Home Therapy Products

The ERMI MPJ Extensionater relies on the ERMI Patient-Actuated Serial Stretch or PASS protocol, coupling periods of stretch with periods of relaxation for optimal therapy.

ERMI MPJ Extensionater
The ERMI MPJ Extensionater helps patients with hallux limitus or hallux rigidus - severely limited motion in the metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ) at the base of the big toe. The device can be configured to promote both extension and flexion by mimicking the position of the foot and toe while walking. Controlled by the patient, our patented air bladder technology provides just the right amount of stretch to help the MPJ begin to glide normally.

Rather than treating the MPJ like a hinge joint as some other therapies do, the ERMI MPJ Extensionater respects the dynamic “J” axis of the joint. With the ERMI device, results last.

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