What causes metatarsalgia?
Several factors are responsible for Metatarsalgia. It is commonly caused by engaging in sports or physical activities that put pressure on the metatarsal bones [1] anterior to your foot. These physical activities can result in overuse of the region. For example, running regularly may put constant force on the ball of your foot. Running may put excess stress force on your foot and worsen inflammation in the metatarsal area. The stress can also cause irritation in your ligaments, cartilage [2], and tendons around the bone.
According to studies, the following factors are responsible for Metatarsalgia:
- High heels or sneakers that don’t have proper padding and arch support: Wearing these shoes will make you put more weight on the ball of your foot when walking.
- Shoes that don’t fit right or too tight: If your shoes are too tight, you may have to squeeze your door when wearing a shoe. If your shoes are too loose, your foot may slide back and forth.
- Foot abnormalities: Various foot abnormalities can cause metatarsalgia, such as calluses on the inferior portion of your foot, bunions, high arches, hammer toe [3], and a second toe that is longer than your big toe.
- Extra weight: Most of your body weight is transferred to your forefoot when you walk. Extra weight means you will exert more pressure on your metatarsals. High heels move extra weight to the front of your foot. Therefore, they are a common cause of metatarsalgia in women. Shoes that have a narrow toe box or athletic shoes that don’t have support or padding. Studies show that being obese overweight may also exert excess pressure on your feet and metatarsal region.
- Some diseases: Bursitis [4], arthritis [5], gout [6], Morton’s neuroma [7], and small stress fractures in your toes and metatarsal bones can increase the stress on the ball of your foot.
- Intense training or activity: People who participate in intense physical activities are more susceptible to metatarsalgia. This is because the front absorbs a huge amount of force when you run. People who engage in a high-impact sport are at risk, especially if you don’t wear your shoes properly. Certain foot shapes. A high arch can put extra pressure on the metatarsals. So can having a second toe that’s longer than the big toe, which causes more weight than normal to be shifted to the second metatarsal head.
- Stress fractures: When you experience small breaks in the toe bones or metatarsals, you may feel excruciating pain. This may also cause you to put excess weight on your foot.
- Morton’s neuroma: This refers to the noncancerous growth of fibrous tissue around a nerve. It is usually located between the third and the fourth metatarsal heads. It results in symptoms that are similar to metatarsalgia and can also lead to metatarsal stress.