Why Does the Ball of My Foot Hurt?

The ball of the foot absorbs a huge amount of pressure from walking, working, and exercising. All that stress can damage the metatarsal bones and sensitive tissues causing a condition called metatarsalgia. Other conditions like neuroma and capsulitis have similar symptoms, so be sure to contact your foot doctor for the proper diagnosis and treatment.

Contributing factors for discomfort in the ball of the foot include:

• Foot fractures— The bones extending into the toes (metatarsals) are susceptible to stress fractures that can exhibit pain in the ball of the foot. Stress fractures can mimic other conditions and can be very difficult to detect without the help of your podiatrist.
• Arch problems and toe deformities—Toe deformities like hammertoes and bunions can increase stress on the metatarsal bones causing pain and inflammation. Untreated arch conditions can also cause pain in the ball of the foot.
• Shoes that are too tight—High heeled shoes are known for causing foot and toe problems including an increase in metatarsal stress.
• Carrying extra weight—Being too heavy puts a lot more stress on the ball of the foot.
• Hereditary predisposition—Some people are born with excessively high arches or with their second toe being extra-long. Both conditions can contribute to problems in the ball of the foot.
• Hard workouts and sporting activities—Participants in high impact sports such as tennis and football are more susceptible to developing metatarsalgia.

If you have pain in the ball of your foot, your foot doctor can help. The foot experts at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists, in the Tucson, Oro Valley, and Green Valley areas of Pima County Arizona, have unparalleled experience in treating all aspects of foot and ankle care. Our team of doctors, including Christopher M. Funk, D.P.M., FACFAS, Bradley A. Whitaker, D.P.M., FACFAS, and Peter C. Merrill, D.P.M., AACFAS, is dedicated to serving you with state-of-the-art, cutting edge medical technologies including the PinPointe FootLaser, custom-fitted orthotics, and Radial Pulse Therapy (RPT) for chronic foot, heel, or ankle pain. If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment, please call (520) 575-0800.