What we Treat / Metatarsal Pain

People suffering from metatarsalgia suffer from intense ball-of-foot or metatarsal pain, often a result of an imbalance in the foot function.

What Causes Metatarsal Pain?  

The causes of metatarsal pain can be attributed to a number of factors, from bone abnormalities to systemic conditions such as diabetes.

The most common causes of metatarsal pain is an imbalance in the long bones of the foot.  The metatarsal bones equally share the weight of a person during walking and daily activities. When this delicate balance between bones is disrupted, the result can be mild to intense metatarsal pain.

Other factors that can contribute to metatarsal pain include the following:

• An enlarged metatarsal head can lead to metatarsal pain.
• Arthritis or any degenerative disease of the joints may contribute to metatarsal pain.
• Systemic conditions such as diabetes, which can cause nerve-type pain in the foot, can cause metatarsal pain.
• Calluses or skin lesions that cause the weight on the foot to be unevenly distributed can bring about metatarsal pain.
• Sports that place tremendous pounding on the ball of the foot, like jogging, can lead to metatarsal pain.
• Ill-fitting shoes that put pressure on the bones of the feet may contribute to metatarsal pain.

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Symptoms

For people who suffer with metatarsal pain, the main symptom is pain in the ball of the foot. Metatarsal pain is most pronounced when walking or engaging in sports. Since the foot supports the body in all its activities, chronic metatarsal pain impacts the ability to perform ordinary tasks. Some people may also experience discomfort when wearing shoes.

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Treatment

If left untreated, metatarsal pain can lead to other more serious foot and lower body joint problems, so it is important to consult a podiatrist who will begin a treatment plan for you.

Treating metatarsal pain depends on the cause, but simple additions such as metatarsal pads to your shoes to help spread the weight will help ease the pain. In addition to this insoles or orthotics will spread your weight more equally across the bottom of the foot and provide stability to the arch, relieving metatarsal pain. Our Chartered Physiotherapists can assess your foot to determine which form of treatment would be most suitable for you.

For a full list of Foot Related injuries please click here