|
Metatarsalgia
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).
CAUSE
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 from
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.
TREATMENT & PREVENTION
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 footcare 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 proper footwear, you should
experience significant relief.
|
