Causes of Pain in The Ball of Your Feet
The ball of your feet is located in the anterior part of the foot’s arch. The ball of the feet is the cushioned area where the toes are born. It is a padded area on your soles that will hurt if you have one of the following conditions:
- Metatarsalgia: As the name implies, the main symptom is a pain in the metatarsal area of the foot. Common causes include arthritis, osteoarthritis and stress fractures, but the most common is ill-fitting shoes and staying uncomfortable for a long period, especially while exercising. This can be caused by overuse, sports injuries, or falls. The pain often begins with a dull ache that worsens over time and can be made worse by walking. If you have continuous or very pain in this area, it is very important to have it evaluated by a podiatrist.
- Morton’s neuroma: A neuroma in the foot is a painful thickening of a nerve. The nerve can become thickened over time as a result of repetitive stress. This can be caused by wearing high heels or flats that are tight on the feet. The main symptom is sometimes pain, but it can also be an odd sensation in your feet or numbness in the ball of your feet.
- Sesamoiditis: It is swelling of the tendons that connect the sesamoid bones. This can occur in runners and young people with an active lifestyle. The pain can be mild or severe and is typically felt in the ball of the foot and the ankle. It is considered a type of tendinitis.