People suffering from metatarsalgia – which derives its name from the term "metatarsals", or long bones of the foot – suffer from intense pain in ball of 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 pain in ball of foot. The term metatarsalgia refers to the number of problems people can experience in this area, including general pain in ball of foot.

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

The most common cause of pain in ball of foot is an imbalance in the long bones of the foot. These bones absorb the weight during walking, and if one of the bones is abnormally long or fractured from stress, it will create dysfunction among all bones, causing intense pain in ball of foot.

Other factors that can contribute to pain in ball of foot include the following:

An enlarged metatarsal head can lead to pain in ball of foot.

Arthritis or any degenerative disease of the joints may contribute to pain in ball of foot.

Systemic conditions such as diabetes, which can cause nerve-type pain in the foot, can cause pain in ball of foot.

Calluses or skin lesions that cause the weight on the foot to be unevenly distributed can bring about pain in ball of foot.

Aging, which tends to thin out or shift the fatty tissue of the foot pad, may produce pain in ball of foot.

Sports that place tremendous pounding on the ball of the foot, like jogging, can lead to pain in ball of foot.

Ill-fitting shoes that put pressure on the bones of the feet may contribute to pain in ball of foot.

Shoes with small toe boxes that cramp your toes can lead to pain in ball of foot.

As explained above, the universal symptom of pain in ball of foot is pain in the ball of the foot. Pain in ball of foot is most pronounced when walking or engaging in sports. Since the foot supports the body in all its activities, chronic pain in ball of foot impacts the ability to perform ordinary tasks.

Additional symptoms of pain in ball of foot include:

If you notice discomfort when wearing socks or shoes, you could have pain in ball of foot.

You may also have pain in ball of foot if you experience pain when participating in activities where impact is applied to the foot, such as running.

Treating pain in ball of foot depends on the cause, but here are a few suggestions to help alleviate the discomfort associated with pain in ball of foot:

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, thus helping to relieve pain in ball of foot.

Add metatarsal pads to your shoes to help spread the weight and therefore ease pain in ball of foot.

If you are experiencing chronic pain in ball of foot, please consult your local podiatrist before engaging in any type of treatment for your condition. If left untreated, pain in ball of foot can also lead to other, more serious foot and lower body joint problems.

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