Metatarsalgia
Metatarsalgia is a rather general term that refers to painful metatarsal heads, or pain in the ball of the foot. Symptoms include cramping, pain, or burning while standing or walking, usually worsened with activity and with relief coming during rest. One of the most common causes of metatarsalgia is fat pad atrophy, or a breakdown of the natural cushioning for the bones that form the ball of the foot. This is usually exacerbated by footwear that is too tight, too rigid in the forefoot, and lacking forefoot cushioning. High heeled shoes are especially problematic because of the increased pressure placed on the ball of the foot and the typically tight forefoot fit that causes the central metatarsal heads to be forced downward into the shoe.
At this point, there is little medical treatment available for most types of metatarsalgia. Typical treatment options tend to be footwear related, with emphasis placed on proper shoe fitting, modification of footwear, and symptom-specific modification of orthotics.
At Wasatch Running Center, customers with metatarsalgia are fitted into shoes with generous forefoot width, superior forefoot cushioning, and often an insert with additional cushioning for the ball of the foot and/or a metatarsal pad. If there is an underlying mechanical cause for the discomfort, functional (arch supportive) inserts can be used to help correct the inefficient foot function.