The Benefits of Taping for Cuboid Syndrome Treatment
Updated January 30, 2024.
Cuboid syndrome, or cuboid subluxation, is a condition characterized by the displacement of the cuboid bone in the lateral area of the foot. This displacement causes foot pain and difficulty performing activities on your feet.
The shift in the cuboid bone occurs due to injury, sprain to the ligaments holding the bone in place, repetitive load on the foot, trauma, or poor biomechanics from conditions like flat feet or high arches. Up to 4% of all athletes with foot pain reportedly have cuboid syndrome.
Symptoms of cuboid syndrome include pain in the outer side of the mid-foot, sensitivity in the area, increased pain while standing, and reduced pain when weight is taken off the foot. Treatment options include rest, icing, physical therapy, foot braces, and taping.
Braces for cuboid syndrome can improve ankle and foot stability, reducing the progression of this condition. Cuboid taping, which involves applying kinesiology tape to the foot, is a common treatment for cuboid syndrome.
Orthotics also support the cuboid bone during weight-bearing, showing good results in treating this condition.
» Discover some of the best insoles for flat feet to alleviate the pain from cuboid syndrome
Taping for Cuboid Syndrome
Taping the foot can effectively treat and manage cuboid syndrome. The tape supports and stabilizes the foot bones, holding the cuboid bone in position while the soft tissue structures around the bone begin to heal.
A doctor or physical therapist will apply medical tape from the bottom of the outer side of the foot, wrapping around the side of the foot over the cuboid bone, and continuing to the ankle on the inner side of your foot.
The goal of taping is to support and stabilize the cuboid bone as weight is placed on the foot. Stabilization from the tape keeps the cuboid bone in the correct position, allowing ligamentous structures around the bone to heal.
Additionally, taping aims to reduce strain on the foot and lower leg muscles, improve foot biomechanics, and enhance foot-ankle complex alignment, reducing future injury chances. Taping can be used with braces, orthotics, and during rehabilitation.
» Learn how orthotics can help with cuboid syndrome
Benefits of Cuboid Taping
Cuboid taping is beneficial in treating and preventing the condition from worsening. Taping stabilizes the cuboid bone, allowing the ligaments responsible for keeping the bone in alignment to heal, and speeding up recovery time.
Though taping provides support for only a few days, the tape can be removed and reapplied as needed. Check for skin irritation when removing the tape.
The benefits of cuboid taping include:
- Decreased muscle tension in the foot and lower leg muscles
- Accelerated healing process for the ligaments surrounding the cuboid bone
- Reduced overall muscle and joint pain
- Shortened recovery time after physical activity and rehabilitation
- Prevention of recurrent injury while maintaining normal foot and ankle range of motion
Quicken Your Recovery with Effective Cuboid Syndrome Treatment
Cuboid Syndrome can be effectively managed through a combination of conservative treatment methods, including taping and the use of high-quality orthotics. Custom orthotics, specifically, offer support and stability to the foot by alleviating stress on the cuboid bone and distributing the body's weight evenly across the entire foot.
This reduces high-load areas, particularly in the arch, and helps limit supination while preventing excessive unwanted motion in the foot and ankle that could lead to injury.
Upstep's custom orthotics are crafted from durable, top-notch materials to cater to a wide range of needs. Created from molds cast directly from your feet in the comfort of your home, these orthotics are sent back to you after manufacturing.
Upstep offers a 120-day money-back guarantee and provides free shipping on all orthotic purchases, making it a convenient and risk-free option for those seeking relief from Cuboid Syndrome.
