Causes of metatarsalgia
The major cause of metatarsalgia is the stress that is put on the metatarsal bones at the front of your foot, when you play sports. Which is why the condition is most common among people that play sports. Activities that cause overuse of the toes are what causes the conditions. For instance, running necessitates applying consistent stress to the ball of your foot. The abnormal stress on your foot may worsen the metatarsal area’s irritation. It may also aggravate the cartilage, tendons, and ligaments that surround the bone.
Other causes include:
- Wearing tight or loose shoes: when your shoes are too tight, they tend to squeeze your foot. Wearing loose shoes will also make your foot slide back and forth, which can also cause metatarsalgia.
- Wearing high heels or sneakers without adequate padding and arch support: These shoes can cause you to put extra weight on the ball of your foot.
- Foot abnormalities: High arches, a second toe that is longer than your big toe, calluses on the bottom of your foot, bunions, and hammer toe can contribute to metatarsalgia.
- Excess weight: Being overweight or obese allows for most weight on your feet and metatarsal area.
- Some diseases: Bursitis [1], arthritis [2], gout, Morton’s neuroma [3], and small stress fractures in your toes and metatarsal bones can increase the stress on the ball of your foot.