Reasons for Ball of Foot Pain While Walking

Did you know ball of foot pain is one of the most common causes of foot pain? Research shows that over 50 to 95% of older adults suffer from ball of foot pain. Interestingly, 85% of this population are women.

Ball of foot pain, also known as metatarsalgia or metatarsal pain, refers to aching or shooting pain in the padded area of your foot, where your toes connect with your metatarsals. The ball of your foot supports your body weight and bears most pressure while walking or standing.

However, when your body weight and pressure are poorly distributed or unevenly transferred, you may experience metatarsal pain. Sometimes, this pain may be accompanied by inflammation, numbness, and even bruises, depending on the severity and underlying cause.

Several factors, such as deformities, injuries, poorly fitted shoes, repeated intense activity, etc., can contribute to or cause this pain.

Ball of foot pain usually comes gradually due to repetitive impact or overuse, but it can also come suddenly. Below are some of the most common causes of ball of foot pain and how to treat them.

Bunions

Foot bunions are a common cause of ball of foot pain, primarily when the pain is located near the big toe. This condition is characterised by a bony bump that grows on the joint at the base of the big toe. This bump can push the big toe inward and towards other toes, causing a widening in the ball of the foot.

As a result, pressure and friction can cause pain in the ball of the foot, among other symptoms.

The exact cause of bunion has not been determined, but experts believe a combination of different factors causes it. These include genetics, arthritis, and wearing footwear that is too tight or has insufficient foot support.

Bunions never resolve independently; without early intervention, the condition can worsen.

Treating foot bunions includes wearing correctly fitted shoes and using orthotics to relieve pressure. Apart from orthotics, your podiatrist may recommend other devices to help ease pressure and correct the toe positioning.

Also, strengthening and stretching exercises can help relieve foot bunions, as can over-the-counter medications. However, in cases where the bunion has worsened, one may undergo surgery to remove it and realign the affected joint.

Sesamoiditis

Another common cause of ball of foot pain is sesamoiditis, particularly pain located around the bottom of the big toe. The sesamoid bones are two pea-sized bones sitting inside the tendons that run beneath the base of the big toe.

A common symptom of sesamoiditis is inflammation and pain in the sesamoid bones, which can be caused by anything.

Sesamoid bone pain and inflammation can result from injury, repetitive stress, or overuse; it’s familiar with athletes and dancers.

Other symptoms of sesamoiditis include tenderness in the ball of the foot, difficulty moving the big toe, or swelling of the big toe. Also, the foot may be affected if you have difficulty walking or bearing weight on one foot.

To treat sesamoiditis, you would need to take a lot of rest, ice the affected foot, or use anti-inflammatory medication. Also, you may use orthotics, taping, or padding to support the affected area and relieve pressure.

However, in severe cases of sesamoiditis, you may need to put the feet in a cast or walking boot. In such cases, leaving the affected foot immobile may be required to give the time to bones heal properly.

Morton’s Neuroma

Ball of foot pain can also result from a medical condition known as Morton’s Neuroma. This condition is characterised by thickening around one of the nerves in the ball of the foot between the third and fourth toes.

The first sign that ball of foot pain is caused by Morton’s Neuroma is tingling and numbness around the nerve. The tingling migrates from the nerve into the toes, graduating into a sharp, stabbing, and burning pain in the ball of the foot.

Also, as the nerve gets more irritated in severe cases, you may feel a small lump under your foot between your toes. Some causes of this condition include wearing tight foot deformities such as flat feet or wearing narrowed or high-heeled shoes.

Engaging in high-impact sports involving running and jumping, as well as injuries such as arthritis, are also common causes of Morton’s Neuroma.

If you have Morton’s Neuroma, you may be able to treat it without surgery, provided you caught the issue early. Non-surgical remedies for Morton’s Neuroma include a combination of medication, steroid injections, ice, and wearing appropriate orthotics and footwear.

Metatarsal Stress Fractures

Another reason for ball of foot pain is a condition known as metatarsal stress fractures, often caused by sudden activity changes. Minor, subtle fractures occur when the levels of activities change suddenly, such as the frequency and duration of a workout, or when the foot is overloaded.

Generally, repetitively overloading the foot eventually places excess force through one or more of the bones such that they break.

These fractures are more common with adolescents as they are in a period where their bones are still developing. Also, people with osteoporosis are highly prone to metatarsal stress fractures.

In addition, there is a high risk of metatarsal stress fractures in people with abnormal foot biomechanics and previous foot injuries. Usually, the fractures start with a mild ball of foot pain, which worsens gradually, resulting in swelling or, sometimes, a hard lump.

Metatarsal stress fractures can be treated by taking a break from aggravating activities and allowing the foot to recover. Along with the break, you may need to wear a special walking shoe, crutches, or splint for a few weeks.

Sometimes, you may need to combine all three alongside applying ice to speed up the bone’s healing process. Moreover, you can take pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory medications to help reduce the pain being generated by the fractures.