Common
Foot Conditions
METATARSALGIA
Metatarsalgia is a general term used to denote a painful foot
condition in the metatarsal region of the foot (the area just
before the toes, more commonly referred to as the ball of
the foot). This is a common foot disorder that can affect
the bones and joints at the ball-of-the-foot. Metatarsalgia
(ball of foot pain) is often located under the 2nd, 3rd, and
4th metatarsal heads, or more isolated at the first metatarsal
head (near the big toe).
With this
condition one or more of the metatarsal heads become painful
and/or inflamed, usually due to excessive pressure over a
long period of time. It is common to experience acute, recurrent,
or chronic pain with this common foot condition. Ball of foot
pain is often caused due to improper fitting footwear, most
frequently in women’s dress shoes and other restrictive
footwear. Footwear with a narrow toe box (toe area) causes
the ball of foot area to be forced into a minimal amount of
space. This can inhibit the walking process and lead to extreme
discomfort in the forefoot.
Other
factors can cause excessive pressure in the ball of foot area
that can result in metatarsalgia. These include shoes with
heels that are too high or participating in high impact activities
without proper footwear and/or orthotics. Also as we get older,
the fat pad in our foot tends to thin out, making us much
more susceptible to pain in the ball of the foot.
The first
step in treating metatarsalgia is to determine the cause of
the pain. If improper fitting footwear is the cause of the
pain, the footwear must be changed. Footwear designed with
a high, wide toe box (toe area) and a rocker sole are ideal
for treating metatarsalgia. The high, wide toe box allows
the foot to spread out while the rocker sole reduces stress
on the ball of the foot.
Unloading
pressure to the ball of the foot can be accomplished with
a variety of foot care products. Orthotics designed to relieve
ball of foot pain usually feature a metatarsal pad. The orthotic
is constructed with the pad placed behind the ball of the
foot to relieve pressure, and redistribute weight from the
painful area to more tolerant areas. Other products often
recommended include gel metatarsal cushions and metatarsal
bandages. When these products are used with appropriate footwear,
you should experience significant relief.