Physical Therapy Management of a Baseball Player With Hallux Rigidus

Hallux rigidus is a common condition affecting the foot. I was not able to find evidence regarding the management of patients with hallux rigidus with manual physical therapy consisting of hands-on manual therapy techniques and movement-reinforcing exercise. This case report attempts to highlight the management of a patient with hallux rigidus by a physical therapist. The patient was a 60-year-old male baseball player with clinically apparent pain, loss of metatarsophalangeal joint motion, and radiographically visible degenerative changes suggesting a diagnosis of grade II hallux rigidus. Treatment involved joint distraction mobilization of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. Improvements were noted immediately with regard to the patient's ability to run with decreased symptoms. I carefully instructed the patient to perform the manual distraction techniques at home. After four clinical visits, the patient returned to baseball the following spring. Outcomes were maintained 8 years after initial evaluation.