Morton's Foot Syndrome

Morton's Foot Syndrome is known under a plethora of other names, such as Morton's toe, Morton's foot, Greek foot or Royal Foot.

This syndrome is characterized by a longer second toe. This is because the first metatarsal, behind the big toe, is short compared to the second metatarsal, next to it. It is a type of brachymetatarsia.

The most common symptom experienced due to Morton's Foot Syndrome is callusing and/or discomfort of the ball of the foot at the base of the second toe. The base of the big toe would normally bear the majority of a person's body weight during walking, but because the second metatarsal head is now farthest forward, the force is transferred there. Pain may also be felt in the arch of the foot, at the ankleward end of the first and second metatarsals.

Among the issues associated with Morton's Foot Syndrome is that the weight distribution causes the front of the foot to widen as the weight shifts from the first shortened toe to the others. Regular shoes will often cause metatarsalgia and neuromas as the shoe pushes together the toes. Wide shoes are recommended.

The name derives from American orthopedic surgeon Dudley Joy Morton (1884–1960)[1].

The ancient Greeks thought that having a long second toe was the best body feature. These big toes can still be seen in art and statues from Greece and Rome. Morton's Foot Syndrome is something that the Venus de Milo, Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, and Michelangelo's David have.

The Vikings thought that if your second toe was long, you would live a long time.

Between 3% and 15% of people have a Greek toe.

[1] Schimizzi, Brage: Brachymetatarsia in Foot and Ankle Clinics - 2004. See here.