Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesOther SymptomsDiagnosisImmediate ReliefMedical TreatmentPreventionRelated Foot ProblemsSeeking Medical Care

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Causes

Other Symptoms

Diagnosis

Immediate Relief

Medical Treatment

Prevention

Related Foot Problems

Seeking Medical Care

Theabductor hallucismuscle is located on the inner border of the foot. This muscle bends the big toe and moves it out to the side. More importantly, it supports themedial longitudinal arch, located on the inside border of the foot. The abductor hallucis is a common area for people to experience foot pain. However, it is often mistaken for other conditions, such asplantar fasciitis.

This article discusses abductor hallucis pain—what causes it, how it is diagnosed, treatment options, and what to expect during recovery.

undefined undefined / Getty Images

Cropped image of healthcare provider examining a patient’s feet

What Causes Abductor Hallucis Pain?

Abductor hallucis pain has various potential causes and risk factors.

Overuse injuries are a common cause of abductor hallucis pain.People with active jobs, such as food servers and healthcare workers, spend a lot of time on their feet, which can put a lot of pressure on this muscle.

Other examples include:

Risk Factors

Certain risk factors can increase your chances of developing abductor hallucis pain, including:

Other Symptoms of Abductor Hallucis Pain

People with abductor hallucis pain may also experience the following symptoms alongside the pain:

How Is Abductor Hallucis Pain Diagnosed?

A healthcare provider may order imaging tests, such asX-raysormagnetic resonance imaging(MRI), to rule out other causes of pain, such as a broken bone or torn ligament.

How to Find Relief Immediately

There are several non-surgical treatments that can be helpful for decreasing abductor hallucis pain.

Home Remedies

Abductor hallucis pain can be treated immediately with home remedies, using the RICE method, which is:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), such as Advil and Motrin (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen), can help decrease inflammation and pain with conditions that affect the abductor hallucis muscle.

You can also useTylenol(acetaminophen) to help decrease pain.

Physical Therapy and Stretching Exercises

Physical therapycan be beneficial for many conditions that cause abductor hallucis pain. Physical therapists use a variety oftreatment interventions, such as:

If you have abductor hallucis pain, you could try doing some stretching exercises at home. Stretch the bottom of your foot to target the abductor hallucis in this way:

Depending on the underlying cause of your abductor hallucis pain, a physical therapist might also recommend taping your arch withkinesiology tape.

Orthotics

Foot orthoticsare shoe inserts that help support your arch and other parts of your feet. Orthotics might help reduce abductor hallucis pain. However, it’s important to get the right kind of orthotics for your foot shape.

Orthotics that are too firm can potentially increase abductor hallucis pain.Consult a healthcare professional, such as a physical therapist orpodiatrist(medical doctor specializing in conditions of the feet) for recommendations based on your foot shape.

Professional Treatment Options for Abductor Hallucis Pain

If your abductor hallucis pain doesn’t improve with home remedies, you may require medical treatment, which can include the following:

How to Prevent Abductor Hallucis Pain

Foot pain isn’t always preventable, but there are things you can do to help decrease your risk of developing a painful condition.

Examples include:

How Long Does It Take to Recover From Abductor Hallucis Pain?Healing times for abductor hallucis pain depend on the severity of the underlying condition. Mild muscle injuries might heal within a few weeks, while more significant injuries might require several months.

How Long Does It Take to Recover From Abductor Hallucis Pain?

Healing times for abductor hallucis pain depend on the severity of the underlying condition. Mild muscle injuries might heal within a few weeks, while more significant injuries might require several months.

Can Abductor Hallucis Pain Lead to Other Foot Problems?

If left untreated, abductor hallucis pain can alter the way you walk and put excess strain on the abductor hallucis muscle.

This can potentially lead to other foot problems, such as:

When to See a Healthcare Provider

If your foot pain isn’t improving with home remedies or the pain continues to interfere with your ability to do daily tasks, see a healthcare provider.

In some cases, foot pain should be addressed immediately. Seek emergency care if you have the following symptoms:

Summary

Abductor hallucis pain occurs along the inside border of the foot. Various conditions cause it. Sometimes, it’s the result of overuse. Home remedies such as RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) can help reduce symptoms. Physical therapy is also beneficial. Less commonly, surgery is required to address abductor hallucis pain.

If left untreated, abductor hallucis pain can lead to other foot issues, such as tendonitis or plantar fasciitis. See a healthcare provider if you have abductor hallucis pain that doesn’t improve after a few days of home remedies. If you can’t bear weight on the foot or have a traumatic injury that could cause a broken bone, seek immediate medical attention.

11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Choi Y, Lee J.Effect of peroneus longus muscle release on abductor hallucis muscle activity and medial longitudinal arch before toe-tap exercise in participants with flexible pes planus.Healthcare (Basel). 2021;10(1):44. doi:10.3390%2Fhealthcare10010044Kurashige T.Hypertrophy of the abductor hallucis muscle: A case report and review of the literature.SAGE Open Medical Case Reports. 2017;5:2050313X1772763. doi:10.1177/2050313X17727638Wada JT, Akamatsu F, Hojaij F, et al.An anatomical basis for the myofascial trigger points of the abductor hallucis muscle.BioMed Research International. 2020;2020:e9240581. doi:10.1155/2020/9240581Tu P.Heel pain: Diagnosis and management.afp. 2018;97(2):86-93.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains, and other soft-tissue injuries.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.What are NSAIDs?Harvard Health Publishing.Exercises and stretches to keep your feet healthy.Sun J, Gao F, Wang Y, Sun W, Jiang B, Li Z.Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is effective in treating chronic plantar fasciitis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(15):e6621. doi:10.1097%2FMD.0000000000006621Harvard Health Publishing.8 ways to avoid foot pain.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Patient guide to muscle strains.Urgent Care for Feet.When is foot pain an emergency?

11 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Choi Y, Lee J.Effect of peroneus longus muscle release on abductor hallucis muscle activity and medial longitudinal arch before toe-tap exercise in participants with flexible pes planus.Healthcare (Basel). 2021;10(1):44. doi:10.3390%2Fhealthcare10010044Kurashige T.Hypertrophy of the abductor hallucis muscle: A case report and review of the literature.SAGE Open Medical Case Reports. 2017;5:2050313X1772763. doi:10.1177/2050313X17727638Wada JT, Akamatsu F, Hojaij F, et al.An anatomical basis for the myofascial trigger points of the abductor hallucis muscle.BioMed Research International. 2020;2020:e9240581. doi:10.1155/2020/9240581Tu P.Heel pain: Diagnosis and management.afp. 2018;97(2):86-93.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains, and other soft-tissue injuries.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.What are NSAIDs?Harvard Health Publishing.Exercises and stretches to keep your feet healthy.Sun J, Gao F, Wang Y, Sun W, Jiang B, Li Z.Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is effective in treating chronic plantar fasciitis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(15):e6621. doi:10.1097%2FMD.0000000000006621Harvard Health Publishing.8 ways to avoid foot pain.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Patient guide to muscle strains.Urgent Care for Feet.When is foot pain an emergency?

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Choi Y, Lee J.Effect of peroneus longus muscle release on abductor hallucis muscle activity and medial longitudinal arch before toe-tap exercise in participants with flexible pes planus.Healthcare (Basel). 2021;10(1):44. doi:10.3390%2Fhealthcare10010044Kurashige T.Hypertrophy of the abductor hallucis muscle: A case report and review of the literature.SAGE Open Medical Case Reports. 2017;5:2050313X1772763. doi:10.1177/2050313X17727638Wada JT, Akamatsu F, Hojaij F, et al.An anatomical basis for the myofascial trigger points of the abductor hallucis muscle.BioMed Research International. 2020;2020:e9240581. doi:10.1155/2020/9240581Tu P.Heel pain: Diagnosis and management.afp. 2018;97(2):86-93.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains, and other soft-tissue injuries.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.What are NSAIDs?Harvard Health Publishing.Exercises and stretches to keep your feet healthy.Sun J, Gao F, Wang Y, Sun W, Jiang B, Li Z.Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is effective in treating chronic plantar fasciitis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(15):e6621. doi:10.1097%2FMD.0000000000006621Harvard Health Publishing.8 ways to avoid foot pain.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Patient guide to muscle strains.Urgent Care for Feet.When is foot pain an emergency?

Choi Y, Lee J.Effect of peroneus longus muscle release on abductor hallucis muscle activity and medial longitudinal arch before toe-tap exercise in participants with flexible pes planus.Healthcare (Basel). 2021;10(1):44. doi:10.3390%2Fhealthcare10010044

Kurashige T.Hypertrophy of the abductor hallucis muscle: A case report and review of the literature.SAGE Open Medical Case Reports. 2017;5:2050313X1772763. doi:10.1177/2050313X17727638

Wada JT, Akamatsu F, Hojaij F, et al.An anatomical basis for the myofascial trigger points of the abductor hallucis muscle.BioMed Research International. 2020;2020:e9240581. doi:10.1155/2020/9240581

Tu P.Heel pain: Diagnosis and management.afp. 2018;97(2):86-93.

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains, and other soft-tissue injuries.

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.What are NSAIDs?

Harvard Health Publishing.Exercises and stretches to keep your feet healthy.

Sun J, Gao F, Wang Y, Sun W, Jiang B, Li Z.Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is effective in treating chronic plantar fasciitis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(15):e6621. doi:10.1097%2FMD.0000000000006621

Harvard Health Publishing.8 ways to avoid foot pain.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Patient guide to muscle strains.

Urgent Care for Feet.When is foot pain an emergency?

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?