Download or read book Hallux Rigidus, An issue of Foot and Ankle Clinics of North America written by Eric Giza and published by Elsevier Health Sciences. This book was released on 2015-09-10 with total page 185 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the MTP joint, as in any joint, the ends of the bones are covered by a smooth articular cartilage. If wear-and-tear or injury damage the articular cartilage, the raw bone ends can rub together. A bone spur, or overgrowth, may develop on the top of the bone. This overgrowth can prevent the toe from bending as much as it needs to when you walk. The result is a stiff big toe, or hallux rigidus. Hallux rigidus usually develops in adults between the ages of 30 and 60 years. No one knows why it appears in some people and not others. It may result from an injury to the toe that damages the articular cartilage or from differences in foot anatomy that increase stress on the joint.