{"id":692,"date":"2025-07-06T09:10:50","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T09:10:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/podcare.gr\/?post_type=pathology&#038;p=692"},"modified":"2026-04-23T10:57:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T10:57:41","slug":"metatarsalgia","status":"publish","type":"pathology","link":"https:\/\/podcare.gr\/en\/pathology\/metatarsalgia\/","title":{"rendered":"Metatarsalgia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Metatarsalgia is a general term describing pain in the forefoot, mainly in the region of the metatarsals (the bones located just before the toes). It is a common condition that may affect gait and daily life, particularly in people who walk or stand for many hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Causes and Risk Factors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Metatarsalgia may be caused by various factors, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. Excessive pressure on the metatarsals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Prolonged standing or intense physical activity (e.g. athletes, runners, dancers).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increased body weight or obesity, which intensifies pressure on the metatarsals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Inappropriate footwear<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>High heels or shoes with thin soles that do not absorb shock.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tight shoes that compress the metatarsals and toes laterally.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Anatomical and musculoskeletal abnormalities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Flat feet or pes cavus, which alter weight distribution across the foot.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hammer toes or claw toes, which affect pressure distribution over the metatarsals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, which may cause inflammation and pain.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4. Injuries or overuse<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Stress fractures of the metatarsals caused by repetitive strain (e.g. in athletes).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Neurological conditions, such as Morton\u2019s neuroma, which may cause pain and numbness in the forefoot.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Symptoms<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pain or a burning sensation in the forefoot, especially during walking or weight-bearing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A feeling as if there is a small pebble inside the shoe.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Numbness or tingling in the toes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Worsening of the pain during physical exercise or when wearing inappropriate footwear.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Diagnosis<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Diagnosis is made through:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clinical examination to assess gait and weight distribution across the foot.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plantar pressure assessment to evaluate weight distribution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>X-rays or MRI, if there is suspicion of a fracture or another underlying pathology.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pressure testing of the foot to identify areas receiving excessive load.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Management and Treatment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. Conservative treatments<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rest and avoidance of activities that worsen the pain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use of orthotic insoles, which reduce pressure on the metatarsals and provide significant relief.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Footwear modification: choosing shoes with soft soles and proper support.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoidance of narrow or high-heeled shoes, which increase pressure on the front part of the foot.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cryotherapy (ice applied to the sole for 10\u201315 minutes) to relieve inflammation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Physiotherapy and stretching exercises to strengthen the muscles of the foot and ankle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Anti-inflammatory medication (such as ibuprofen) for temporary relief of pain and inflammation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Invasive treatments<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cortisone injections, if inflammation and pain are severe and do not respond to conservative treatment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Surgical treatment: in rare cases where there is severe deformity of the metatarsals or failure of conservative management.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Prevention<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use of appropriate footwear with adequate shock absorption.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maintenance of a healthy body weight to reduce pressure on the metatarsals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoidance of excessive strain on the feet without adequate rest.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Regular strengthening and stretching of the foot muscles for pressure relief.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When to Visit the Podiatrist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If the pain persists and makes walking difficult.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If numbness or neurological symptoms develop in the feet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you notice deformity of the toes or the metatarsals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-gray-100-background-color has-background\"><strong>Metatarsalgia<\/strong> is a common but manageable condition that can be prevented and treated through footwear modification, appropriate support of the foot with orthotic insoles, and physiotherapy. If symptoms persist or worsen, consultation with a podiatrist is essential for personalised treatment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Metatarsalgia is a general term describing pain in the forefoot, mainly in the region of the metatarsals (the bones located just before the toes).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":943,"parent":0,"menu_order":64,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"category":[34],"class_list":["post-692","pathology","type-pathology","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","pathology_category-myoskeletikes-pathiseis"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Metatarsalgia - podcare<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Metatarsalgia - 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