Metatarsalgia Treatment

You can have primary or secondary metatarsalgia. Primary metatarsalgia develops if there is an issue with the bones at the bases of your toes that affects how they work with other parts of your foot. These issues can include:

Secondary metatarsalgia occurs if you have health issues or participate in activities that put a lot of pressure on the balls of your feet. Some conditions that can make you more likely to develop metatarsal pain include:

You are also more at risk if you wear ill-fitting shoes or if you engage in activities like running. In some cases, ball-of-foot pain can be a complication of forefoot surgery.

The main symptom of this condition is pain in the balls of the feet. Other symptoms include:

You may also experience foot pain when standing and numbness or tingling under your toes. The symptoms can appear quickly or can develop over time.

If you’re experiencing metatarsalgia pain, treatment options can include physical therapy that focuses on foot and ankle stretches. We may also recommend that you wear metatarsal pads in your shoes or turn to orthotics customized to fit your exact needs. For others, laser therapy can help.

The exact metatarsalgia treatment will depend on its cause.

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