Sharp pain in the balls of your feet is an indication of Metatarsalgia, a foot ailment that involves inflammation to the nerves. Metatarsalgia is a common occurrence among runners, basketball players, tennis players, and other athletes involved in high-impact sports. It is also frequent among women who wear high-heel shoes for long periods at a time.
Metatarsalgia: Symptoms
\"Pain Foot\"
People afflicted by metatarsalgia pain often feel intense pain in the area of the sole directly behind the toes, more commonly known as the balls of our feet. The footache can be acute, burning, or dull, and is most often felt near the big toe, though it can also occur under the middle toes. These are the most frequent symptoms associated with metatarsalgia pain:
- The pain worsens when flexing your feet.
- You feel as if walking on pebbles
- Lack of sensation or tingling of the toes
- Intense pain around the toes.
- The pain worsens when walking barefoot, particularly on hard surfaces.
- The soreness gets worse when you run, walk, or stand, and improves after resting.
Metatarsalgia: Common Causes
When we run or jump, the metatarsal bones absorb the full impact of the equivalent of several times our body weight. Among the many factors causing metatarsalgia pain are extreme sports training, biomechanical foot imbalances, being overweight, improper footwear, and regular use of high-heel shoes.
Possible Complications
If the symptoms of metatarsalgia pain are not treated in a timely manner, this condition can deteriorate to more critical disorders such as loss of range of motion, injury to foot ligaments, problems with the toes, and chronic stiffness. In extreme cases, necrosis can develop and collapse the entire bone structure.
Metatarsalgia Treatment Approach
Relieving metatarsalgia pain in most cases does not demand aggressive measures. The most recommended treatments for metatarsalgia pain are:
Get rest - Avoid stressing your feet by getting some rest. In short time you may practice low-impact activities such as swimming, rowing, or cycling.
Use Ice - Use ice packs on the area of pain for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, several times a day.
Wear proper footwear - Shoes need to fit properly and be of the adequate for the type of activity that you plan to get involved in.
Wear arch support inserts - The use of adequate arch support insoles can provide the needed sustainment to reduce stress on the metatarsal area.
Wearing arch support inserts can play an important role in of most treatments for metatarsalgia pain. Wearing metatarsal pads can also help to alleviate the stress around the metatarsal area.
In most cases involving metatarsalgia pain do not require medical care. It is normal for our feet to be sore after a long day of standing or working out. Talk to your doctor if the pain or burning sensation if the metatarsalgia pain does not improve after altering your activities and wearing arch support inserts.
Having chronic metatarsal pain can be an unpleasant experience, but by taking the proper care of your feet with the treatment options recommended above you can return to your normal activities in a short amount of time.
Metatarsalgia - Main Causes and Treatment Using Orthotic Shoe Insoles
Fred Salomon is a foot health care specialist with professional and commercial ventures in the podiatry industry, including foot care products and foot health treatment options. You can find in-depth foot care information and treatment options for metatarsalgia and many other foot health conditions at his orthotics website.