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METATARSALGIA
(Pain
in the ball of the foot)
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.
Dr
Foot Recommends
Review:
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Recommended
Link
Foot Health Directory - Foot health products, services and
information available from pinkfeet.co.uk, a unique
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