Foot Health Guide - Metatarsalgia
Ball Of The Foot Pain

Metatarsalgia, commonly known as "ball of the foot pain", derives its name from the term "metatarsals," or long bones of the foot. If you have the condition you will feel intense pain in the ball of the foot.

When the delicate balance between metatarsal bones is disrupted, the result can be mild to intense foot pain known as metatarsalgia.

What causes Metatarsalgia?

The causes of metatarsalgia pain can be attributed to a number of factors, from bone abnormalities to systemic conditions such as diabetes. The most common cause is an imbalance in the long bones of the foot.

Other causes are attributed to:

- An enlarged metatarsal head
- Arthritis or any degenerative disease of the joints
- Systemic conditions such as diabetes, which can cause nerve-type pain in the foot
- Calluses or skin lesions that cause the weight on the foot to be unevenly distributed
- Aging, which tends to thin out or shift the fatty tissue of the foot pad
- Sports that place tremendous pounding on the ball of the foot, like jogging
- Ill-fitting shoes that put pressure on the bones of the feet
- Shoes with small toe boxes that cramp your toes

What are the symptoms of Metatarsalgia?

The universal symptom of metatarsalgia is pain in the ball of the foot.

Symptoms may include:

- Discomfort when wearing shoes and socks
- Pain during activities where impact is applied to the foot, such as running

Relief and Prevention Suggestions

A few treatment suggestions for the discomfort associated with this condition:

- Use shoe insoles or inserts to help spread your weight more equally across the entire bottom of the foot
- Shoes and insoles also provide stability to prevent the abnormal collapsing of the arch
- Add metatarsal pads to your shoes to help spread the weight

If more support and cushioning doesn’t help alleviate pain, see a podiatrist for further treatment.

Information on foot pain, leg and lower body health conditions taken from FootSmart.com and provided by The Podiatry Institute, dedicated to advancing the standard of care in podiatric medicine and its effects on muscoskeletal health.


    

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