Metatarsalgia is a painful inflammatory condition affecting the ball of your foot—the area just behind your toes (the metatarsal heads). It occurs when excessive weight, pressure, or impact is repeatedly placed on the forefoot, often caused by high-impact sports, high heels, hammertoes, or abnormal foot biomechanics.
Common Symptoms
Sharp, aching, or burning pain in the ball of the foot behind the toes · Feeling as if you are walking on a stone or pebble inside your shoe · Pain that worsens when standing, walking, running, or flexing the foot · Calluses forming under the painful forefoot joint area
Our Treatment Approach
Digital plantary pressure mapping & gait analysis → custom-molded orthotics featuring metatarsal pads to redistribute pressure away from joint heads → footwear modifications (wide-toe boxes, cushioned forefoot soles) → physical therapy for calf tightness → callus debridement over forefoot pressure spots.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do metatarsal pads help metatarsalgia?
A metatarsal pad sits just behind the ball of the foot, gently lifting and spreading the metatarsal bones to relieve pressure and impact from the painful forefoot joints.
Can wearing high heels cause metatarsalgia?
Yes, high heels shift your body weight forward onto the forefoot metatarsal bones, increasing pressure by up to 75% and triggering inflammation.
Book Metatarsalgia (Forefoot Ball Pain)
Most patients are seen within 48 hours. A care coordinator will call you to confirm.
