What is Metatarsalgia?

Metatarsalgia is characterized by pain and inflammation that arises in the ball of your foot. Five metatarsal bones make up the structure of your foot from the arch to the joints of the toes. When you walk, jump or run the weight of your body is shifted to these bones, most directly to the first two metatarsals, when the foot pushes off from the ground. Metatarsalgia can develop due to repeated excess pressure on the metatarsals. There are several causes of metatarsalgia — most of which are preventable — including: the development of a bunion or hammertoe, frequent running or participation in high impact sports, obesity, a high arch, stress fractures and improperly fitting shoes or high heels.

If you experience pain in the ball of your foot, sharp pain or numbness in the toes, the feeling that you have a pebble in your shoe or pain while walking barefoot, you might be suffering from metatarsalgia.