Metatarsalgia is a general term describing pain in the metatarsals, which are the long bones of the feet. It is commonly referred to as a symptom (pain at the ball of the foot) of other conditions, as opposed to a condition in itself. Because the metatarsal bones should have weight and forces evenly distributed between them through every step, problems that overload a particular metatarsal or group of metatarsals can quickly become very painful for those affected.
Because
metatarsalgia is a broad term that can refer to many conditions, the causes can vary greatly. Commonly, there may be biomechanical and
alignment issues involved that place greater stress on the metatarsal bones at the ball of the foot. This may not refer to just the bony
structure, but also refer to weak muscles and ligaments that allow the positioning of the metatarsals to change and take on a greater load.
Generally, causes can include:
Metatarsalgia is characterised by pain at the ball of the foot. The pain can range from sharp to a dull ache. The pain is usually exacerbated by walking and putting pressure on the metatarsals. Depending on the cause, swelling may also be present, which may irritate the surrounding structures of the foot and cause the pain to radiate.
The treatment of metatarsalgia must address its specific cause. The first step is then to identify this cause. This can be done through an assessment with your podiatrist, which will examine everything from the biomechanics and alignment of your feet and legs to pressure testing, muscle strength testing, footwear assessment, gait analysis and more. Any concurrent conditions, such as callus or bursitis in the feet, also need to be managed appropriately. While the PRICE (protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation) principles can help relieve the painful symptoms, treatment needs to be directed at correcting the cause so that metatarsalgia doesn’t become an ongoing issue. To achieve this, treatment may include:
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Keeping your family on their feet and helping them to walk, run, play and exceed their goals is why we love getting up in the morning.
We're located inside the One Health medical centre at Building 122 Remuera Rd, Remuera, Auckland 1050, New Zealand
| MON - SAT | 8:30am – 6:00pm |
| SUN | Closed |
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