What’s Causing the Pain in the Ball of Your Foot?

The ball of the foot is the area of the foot between your toes and your arch, where bones called metatarsals are located. When walking, your weight moves from your heel to the ball of your foot. If the weight is transferred unevenly over the ball of your foot to the metatarsals, swelling and pain can occur. If you’re experiencing this type of pain, read this post by Dr. Hubert Lee at CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, WA. He’s sharing what could be causing your pain and discomfort.

Pain in the ball of your foot can include:

• Pain that intensifies when you’re walking, running, or standing and improves with rest.
• Sharp, aching, or burning pains.
• Frequent, painful calluses in the skin of the area.
• Unusual sensation or sharp pain in your toes.

Causes of Ball of Foot Pain

As we get older, we lose the fat pad that’s located under the ball of the foot, causing shock and abnormal pressure to that area. Also known as metatarsalgia, this pain can also be caused by:

• High arches or having a second toe that’s longer than the big toe.
• Joint inflammation or arthritis in your feet
• Foot irregularities like hammertoes
• An upsurge in high-impact activities such as jumping, long periods of standing, or running
• Wearing shoes that don’t provide adequate support or fit well
• Morton’s neuroma
• Carrying excess weight
• Stress fractures.

Preventing Ball of Foot Pain

Clearly, staying off your feet isn’t an answer to prevent this condition. But there are steps you can take, for example:

• Using arch supports
• Wear supportive, comfortable shoes that have a wider set toe area and thicker sole
• Wear shoes designed for the activity you’re wearing them for.
• Maintain a healthy weight.

If you have pain near or in the ball of the foot, contact Dr. Hubert Lee and his team at CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, WA to schedule your next visit. You can schedule an appointment online or by calling us at 425-455-0936.