The foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, plus muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Because it carries the body's weight, its complexity can result in different painful conditions and injuries.
Foot pain, along with symptoms like swelling and difficulty moving, might be caused by:
- Traumatic injuries
- Overuse injuries (develops over time)
- Genetic or acquired deformities
- Muscle imbalances
- Poor training form
- Systemic diseases (i.e., diabetes or arthritis, ill-fitting shoes, obesity, or infections)
Where Can Foot Pain Occur?
Foot pain is usually grouped by where it hurts: in the toes, the arch, the heel, or the ball of the foot.
Toe pain can be caused by fractures, ingrown or fungal toenails, corns and calluses, diabetic nerve damage, arthritis, and foot deformities like hammertoes and bunions.
Arch pain can happen because of an injury, having flat feet or high arches, plantar fasciitis, gaining weight, getting older, or using your feet too much. It can also be from walking strangely, like overpronating, which puts too much pressure on the arch because the foot rolls too much inward.
Heel pain is often linked to plantar fasciitis, but it could also come from Achilles tendinitis, heel bursitis, Sever’s disease, heel spurs, being overweight, wearing shoes that don't fit well, losing padding in the heel, stress fractures or bruises, or arthritis.
Ball of the foot pain happens in the cushioning under the toes. It might be because of metatarsalgia, pain in the joints of the metatarsal bones, arthritis, plantar warts, stress fractures, being overweight, or conditions like Morton’s neuroma, Freiberg’s disease, or sesamoiditis.
It's crucial to understand that foot pain isn't normal, and you shouldn't brush it off. Most problems causing foot pain can be treated easily and without surgery, especially if they're caught and treated early.
What Podiatrists Can Do for Foot Pain
A podiatrist is a doctor who focuses on taking care of feet and ankles. Some of them are also trained to do surgery. They're really good at figuring out why your feet hurt and coming up with a plan to fix the problem quickly and effectively.
They can also offer professional advice and tools to help avoid foot pain by:
- Prescribing custom orthotic devices
- Recommending appropriate footwear
- Sharing tips on proper training techniques
- Providing basic care suggestions for maintaining healthy feet.
If you're experiencing foot pain, discomfort, swelling, or difficulty moving around, it's important to see a podiatrist as soon as possible. They can diagnose your condition and give you the right treatment.
