Ball of foot pain, or Metatarsalgia, is an umbrella term used to describe a number of conditions that cause pain in the ball of the foot.
Causes and treatment of pain in the ball of the foot (Metatarsalgia).
Ball of foot pain is a common issue we see as podiatrists, mostly because there are many structures in this area that can be injured. While ball of foot pain can be debilitating, thankfully there are plenty of treatment options your podiatrist can use to help.
There are a multitude of conditions that can develop in this region including:
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Sesamoiditis
- Capsulitis/Synovitis (joint inflammation)
- Stress Fracture
- Bursitis
- Tendinitis (inflamed tendons)
How is Ball of Foot Pain Diagnosed?
Despite there being numerous possible conditions and diagnoses associated with pain in the ball of the foot, our team of podiatrists are trained to accurately assess your injury and observe the cause of pain. This may involve:
- Recording a full history of your injury
- Palpation of the painful area to feel for the exact affected structure
- Functional movement and strength tests
- Walking, running and/or biomechanical assessments
- Referral for imaging
- Force and pressure treadmill analysis
What is the Performance Podiatry treatment for your ball of foot pain?
The most important thing you can do to manage the pain under the balls of your feet is to get the professional opinion of your local podiatrist. Our team at Performance Podiatry will be able to appropriately assess and diagnose your pain and assure you’re set on a good treatment path. Possible treatment options may include:
- Padding/ strapping
- Dry needling
- Shockwave therapy
- Exercise therapy/ strength training
- Orthotic therapy
- Education regarding footwear, activity adjustment and at-home management
- Assessing the interventions we have implemented using our Zebris force and pressure analysis treadmill (see below)
After diagnosing your pain, we use your biomechanical assessments to understand what may be contributing to the pain. This could include restrictions in the ankle, midfoot or big toe that may produce increased stress in the ball of your foot. Our Zebris treadmill has built in force plates that allow us to identify the forces and pressures going through specific areas of your foot. Combined with our visual assessments, this can help paint a picture of what is happening at the ball of your foot. Our podiatrists are then able to alter your foot with padding, strapping or orthotics before assessing you on the Zebris again – allowing us to observe the effectiveness of our treatment.
If you currently have pain under the balls of your feet, make sure you visit a podiatrist to allow for a speedy diagnosis and recovery. We are experts at managing foot pain of all forms. There is no need to live with the debilitating pain any longer.
Make a podiatrist appointment to discuss and treat ball of foot pain.
Our highly qualified and experienced podiatrists are experts in biomechanics and it’s our philosophy that the finest foot care requires an entirely bespoke experience. That’s why we are dedicated to providing entirely tailor-made diagnosis and treatment services that are the best in Australia.
Our dynamic practice has a holistic approach to resolving foot complaints.
From assessment and diagnosis to extraordinary treatment, every step of your journey with us will deliver you the ultimate podiatric experience, resulting in healthier and happier feet.
Book a consultation with our podiatrists in Sydney (Macquarie St), Darlinghurst and Randwick to discuss your condition and we’ll get you pain-free and back to full function as smoothly and quickly as possible, so you can return to the activities and life you love.
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The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.