What is Metatarsalgia? Transcript
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Hello, I’m Donna Robertson, Head of Training and Chief Pedorthist for Foot Solutions, a foot wellness retailer specializing inexpertly fittedfootwear and custom crafted orthotic insoles. Today we are going to discussMetatarsalgia, a common condition we address at Foot Solutions.Metatarsalgiais a condition in which the ball of the foot becomes painful and inflamed. There are 5 metatarsal bones in the forefoot.Metatarsalgiais usually a result of underlying conditions such as abnormal alignment of one or more toes,hammer toes and bunions, loss of medial, lateral, and transverse arch structure and joint stability. It can also be caused by improperly fitting shoes. The pain can be sharp, a dull ache, fatigue feeling, or a burning feeling. You may even feel like you’re stepping on a pebble.Anyone can experience the pain ofmetatarsalgia, although runners and others who take part in high impact sports or spend more time on their forefoot have the condition more frequently. People with high arches also havemetatarsalgiamore than others, this foot type puts extra pressure on the metatarsal area.Overpronation (excessive inward rolling of the foot) or over supination (excessive outward rolling of the foot), added with poorly fitting shoes, leads to abnormal pressures across the metatarsal bones during toe off of the gait cycle causing atrophy of the fat pads protecting the ball of the foot.Symptoms can come on quickly or develop overnight. The metatarsal pain may become worse while standing, running, or walking.Untreatedmetatarsalgiacan lead to hammer toe deformities losing grip strength and function of the toes. Pain in the ball of the foot can cause you to limp and transfer pain in other parts of the body, including the lower back,hip, knee and ankle leading to an abnormal walking function in hopes of offloading pressure to decrease pain in the ball of your foot.I hope this video was helpful in understandingMetatarsalgiaand its symptoms. Our experts at Foot Solutions are experienced in addressing this pathology and are ready to help you get out of pain, comfortably on your feet.In a follow up video, we will discuss four treatments forMetatarsalgiaas well as how Foot Solutions can help. To learn more or to schedule a visit with oneof our in-store Pedorthists, visitwww.footsolutions.com. Your feet are the foundation of your health. Let us take care of them for you.
