What is metatarsalgia?

It is an irritation of the metatarsals, which are the bones at the base of your toes on the bottom of your foot.

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What are metatarsals?

They are rod-shaped bones in the front of the foot, just before the toes. They play an important role in supporting the foot and transferring weight.

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What are the causes of metatarsalgia?

It is caused by too much pressure on the front of the foot. The causes of this pressure can be different, such as:

• Trauma or impact directly on the bone, such as:
  
  • Landing too hard on the balls of your feet
• Small, repetitive traumas on the front of the foot leading to excessive pressure on the bone
• Overload on the forefoot (wearing high heels more than usual)

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When running, the causes of metatarsalgia are:

• Switching too quickly to a more minimalist shoe
• Starting to run more on the balls of your feet without proper moderation
• An increase in speed or elevation gain

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What are the symptoms of metatarsalgia?

The most common symptoms are:

• Pain under the front of the foot at the base of the toes
• The pain is increased by
  
  • Walking on the balls of your feet
  • Jumping
  • Running on your toes
  • Walking barefoot

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How is metatarsalgia diagnosed?

Diagnosis is possible through a review of your symptom history and a clinical examination.

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When should I see a physiotherapist for metatarsalgia?

You should consult a physiotherapist if you have symptoms as described above or if your doctor has already ruled out any other cause that may be responsible for your pain.

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You do not need to see a doctor before consulting a physiotherapist. If your condition requires you to see a doctor, your physiotherapist will be able to tell you.

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What are the physiotherapy treatments for metatarsalgia?

Your physiotherapist will perform an evaluation to determine the cause of your patellofemoral syndrome and will assess the following elements:

• Your joint mobility
• The gliding of your nerves
• The quality of your movements
• Your strength and stability

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To learn more...

You can listen to the podcast PARLE-MOI DE SANTÉ created by one of our physiotherapists, Alexis Gougeon.

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Episode #1 discusses the prevention and treatment of running injuries.

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Find the episode on YouTube:

Click below to listen to episodes on podcast platforms:

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