What Is Ball Of Foot Pain (Metatarsalgia)?

Pain in the ball of the foot is called metatarsalgia and may have many different causes (including arthritis, poor circulation, pinching of the nerves between the toes, posture problems, and various disorders). However, most often the pain is caused by nerve damage or by an abnormality of the joints nearest the balls of the feet (metatarsal joints). Often, developing one disorder that causes pain in the ball of the foot contributes to development of another disorder that causes pain in the same location.

What Can Cause Ball Of Foot Pain

Metatarsalgia is most often a result of faulty distribution of weight on the forefoot. Normally when walking, weight is transferred from the heel to the outside of the foot and then we finish with the weight on the inside as we 'toe-off' at the end of each step. During toe-off, most of the weight is carried by the big toe. When standing, the first metatarsal (at the big toe) caries 2/6 of the body weight and each of the others carries 1/6. If increased weight is habitually carried on the lateral (outer) metatarsals, this can cause microtrauma in the joint capsule and around the head of that particular metatarsal and thereby lead to injury.

Symptoms Of Ball Of Foot Pain

The most common symptom of metatarsalgia is pain in the ball of the foot. It may feel as if you have a stone in your shoe. The ball of the foot may also become red and inflamed, and a callus may form under the end of the metatarsal bone. Walking is painful. Over time, pain and stiffening can be disabling. Doctors usually can diagnose the disorder based on the person's symptoms and an examination, although testing is done if an infection or arthritis is suspected.

Treatment of Ball Of Foot Pain

Sometimes a single factor can lead to metatarsalgia. More often, several factors are involved, including: Intense training or activity. Runners are at risk of metatarsalgia, primarily because the front of your foot absorbs significant force when you run. But anyone who participates in a high-impact sport is also at risk, especially if your shoes fit poorly or are worn out. Certain foot shapes. A high arch can put extra pressure on the metatarsals. So can having a second toe that's longer than the big toe, which causes more weight than normal to be shifted to the second metatarsal head. Foot deformities. Wearing too-small shoes or high heels can cause your foot to be misshapen. Hammertoe, when one of your toes curls downward, and bunions, swollen, painful bumps at the base of your big toes, can result in metatarsalgia. Excess weight. Because most of your body weight transfers to your forefoot when you move, extra pounds mean more pressure on your metatarsals. Losing weight may reduce or eliminate symptoms of metatarsalgia. Poorly fitting shoes. High heels, which transfer extra weight to the front of your foot, are a common cause of metatarsalgia in women. Shoes with a narrow toe box or athletic shoes that lack support and padding also can contribute to metatarsal problems. Stress fractures. Small breaks in the metatarsals or toe bones can be painful and change the way you put weight on your foot. Morton's neuroma. This noncancerous growth of fibrous tissue around a nerve usually occurs between the third and fourth metatarsal heads. It causes symptoms that are similar to metatarsalgia and can also contribute to metatarsal stress.