What Causes Pain The Ball Of The Foot (Metatarsalgia)?

High Arch In The Foot

Specific foot shapes can cause an individual to be more likely to develop metatarsalgia, such as having high arches in the feet. An individual's foot arch is made up of their metatarsal bones, tarsal bone, and the tendons and ligaments that support them. An individual has a high foot arch if they step in water or other fluid barefoot, and their footprint shows the circle of their heel separately from the top part of their foot with the toes. A high foot arch in an individual means their body weight and activity force are distributed improperly, where they are concentrated on the heel and ball of their foot. This abnormal distribution of weight and force causes the metatarsal bones to compress the nerves that sit between them, causing inflammation and resulting in metatarsalgia. This condition can be avoided if an individual who has high foot arches uses shoe inserts, orthotics, or arch supports to help stabilize the heel, support their arch, and relieve some stress on the metatarsals.

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