Ball Of Foot Pain

The medical term for inflammation and pain experienced in the ball of foot area is Metatarsalgia. It is one of the more common foot complaints and there can be several causes for its development. Although ball of foot pain can be caused by the type of shoes we wear, (eg. wearing high heeled shoes places excess pressure on the ball of the foot), its most common cause is a condition known as excessive or over pronation.

Often described by sufferers as a burning or sharp pain, Metatarsalgia usually manifests directly under the balls of the feet. It can however also appear in the areas that surround the second, third or fourth toes. Sufferers report that the pain is at its worst when standing, walking or running. Some feel as if they are walking with a small stone trapped inside their shoe and for some walking without any footwear is too painful to do.

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This type of pain in the foot can have a number of different root causes. Examples include high impact physical activity or spending long periods on the feet in poor quality or ill fitting shoes. This is why Metatarsalgia can be quite prevalent amongst those whose jobs require they be on their feet all day. Another factor that can contribute to ball of foot pain is excessive pressure being placed on the feet, an example being people who are overweight.

Although all of the above can lead to the development of Metatarsalgia, medical research has shown that the most common reason behind the complaint is a condition known as excessive or over pronation. This is where the arches collapse and the ankles roll inwards whenever a step is taken. In order to fully understand the issues surrounding excessive pronation we first need to know a little about how the feet work.

Held together by a network of ligaments and muscles, our feet are made up of twenty six bones. The foot does not rest flat to the floor but instead is held proud from the floor by two arches. These arches are made up of the transverse arch which runs across the foot, and the longitudinal arch, also known as the instep, which runs from the toes down to the heel. A common symptom of excessive pronation is excess pressure which can lead to a collapsing of the transverse arch. At the same time the longitudinal arch collapses leading to the joints of the ankles rolling inwards. The structure of the feet is weakened leading to inflammation and pain in the ball of the foot.

Initial treatment of Metatarsalgia should be to try and minimize the time spent on the feet. Try to wear better quality footwear, something that both fits well and offers good support. In the evening spend ten minutes applying ice to the affected area, this will help to reduce any inflammation. If the condition has caused the development of calluses then rub them down with a pumice stone, or have them removed by a chiropodist.

For long term relief, and the treatment of the underlying causes, wearing a Walkfit Orthotic has shown to be an effective remedy. Walkfit help by providing biomechanical correction which help to eliminate excessive pronation. This is achieved through realigning the feet and ankles and providing support to the feet's arches. This in turn helps to reduce the friction and pressure present in the ball of the foot and so provides relief from pain in that area.