Ball of Feet Pain

Pain in the ball of the feet is a common ailment among physically active, especially those who have recently increased training. Repetitive stress can injure and inflame tissues in the feet.

  1. Causes

    • Ball of the foot pain is commonly caused by repetitive stress on the forefoot due to activities like running on hard surfaces; sudden trauma like spraining the big toe or landing very hard on the ball of the foot can also cause pain.

    Activities

    • Those who participate in activities like dancing and long distance running on hard surfaces are at a greater risk of ball of the foot pain, especially if they wear high-heeled shoes in other activities.

    Other Risk Factors

    • Age and weight are two primary risks that increase the likelihood of developing foot pain; the elderly have high risk of developing arthritis in the feet, which can cause and increase pain.

    Treatment

    • A food affected by pain in the ball of the foot should be rested and iced until pain dissipates; physical activity should be resumed cautiously and gradually.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Foot support and stride play a large role in the development of foot pain; getting new shoes and changing walking and running habits can often prevent foot pain.