Bleeding in the muscle in the foot

Anatomy: The muscles often comprise a muscle belly and a muscular tendon, which are attached to a bone. The muscle belly is found on the back of the foot, between forefoot bones and under the sole.

Symptoms: Pain when pressure is applied, activating and stretching the damaged muscle. There is often a sense of the muscle being firm or filling out.

Examination: A medical examination is not required in slight cases. If satisfactory progress is not achieved a medical examination may be required in order to make the diagnosis. A normal medical examination is usually sufficient in order
to make the diagnosis, however, if there is any doubt concerning the
diagnosis an ultrasound scan can be performed.

Treatment: Bleeding on the muscles is treated with relief and rehabilitation. In instances where the bleeding is particularly excessive it may be necessary to perform draining.

Rehabilitation: Rehabilitation is totally dependent upon which muscle is injured. Running can normally be resumed as soon as the pain subsides. Until this is possible, the guidelines under rehabilitation, general should be followed.

Complications: If satisfactory progress is not achieved, an x-ray examination should be performed to exclude the possibility of:

• Bone fracture
• Stress (fatigue) fracture

Similarly, an ultrasound scan should be performed to exclude:

• Concentration of fluid in the joint (traumatic arthritis/synovitis)
• Metatarsus ligament rupture
• Bone membrane tear (periosteal avulsion) in the forefoot
• Degenerative arthritis
• Inflammation of the bursa
• Inflammation of the tendon sheath
• Infection
• Rupture of tendons