Practitioner

 Zak.Han

Chinese Acupuncture practitioner,Chinese

exarmy doctor,worked

in army hospital 20 years.He specialises in

  back pain relief

This website does not provide specific medical advice and the information provided should not be used as a substitute for seeking medical advice from a registered health practitioner.

 Pain in the Ball of the Foot

If you have pain in the ball of your foot you are not alone. Pain in the ball of the foot is a common complaint. When someone is referring to the ball of the foot they are usually referring to the location of the metatarsal heads. The long bones of the foot are called metatarsals. The metatarsal heads are the knobby ends of the metatarsals that form a joint with the toes. Thus the ball of the foot is the area where the toes form a joint with the long bones of the foot, the metatarsals.

Pain in the ball of the foot can come from a problem with the nerves as seen in conditions such as neuropathy or a neuroma, which will be discussed shortly. Often, pain in the ball of the foot can is the result of one or more of the metatarsals taking more than their share of the load. Metatarsalgia is a general term which simply means pain in the metatarsal bones. For this discussion I am going to be talking specifically about pain in the metatarsal heads.

There are several reasons why one or more of the metatarsal heads can become overloaded. • Some people gradually lose the fat pad that cushions the area under the metatarsal heads as they age. If there is less cushion the bones feel more of the load and this causes pain.

• Some people were born with a deformity known as Morton’s toe in which the first metatarsal bone (long bone of the big toe) is short. As a result the second metatarsal or second toe is longer than the big toe. This causes most of the body weight to be put onto the second metatarsal head. This overloads this bone and causes pain.

• Some people with high arches have pain in the ball of the foot. In the person with the high arch we often see that they load the foot primarily at the heel and then again in the ball of the foot. The mid-foot does not take its share of the load. This again overloads the metatarsal heads at the ball of the foot.

• Another painful condition felt in the ball of the foot is Morton’s neuroma. This is usually felt between the 3rd and 4th toes. One quick way to tell if you may have this condition is to grab your foot around the metatarsal heads and squeeze your whole foot. If you have a neuroma this squeezing will causes pain at the site of the Morton’ Neuroma.

Although the cause of pain in the ball of the foot is varied, the treatment, at least the initial treatment, is the usually the same. We try to reduce load and if necessary movement of the metatarsal heads. This is accomplished by adding a metatarsal pad to an orthotic or arch support. The metatarsal pad fits in the ball of the foot just behind the metatarsal heads. This allows more of the weight to be taken up by the long shafts of the metatarsals and less on the metatarsal heads. The metatarsal pads can be added to a custom arch support. They can also be purchased over-the-counter from a pharmacy or specialty shoe store. The correct placement of the metatarsal pad is critical so follow directions or ask your physician or podiatrist for help.

 Suffering With Arch Foot Pain?

Author: Dave Wilson

If bunions aren't getting you down, maybe the arch of your foot is causing you pain. Arch pain or arch strain occurs when the tissues in the middle of the foot become inflamed and results in a burning sensation.

The arch of the foot is shaped by a firm band of tissue that joins the toes to the heel bone. This band of tissue plays a vital role in the proper mechanics of the foot and assists in the transfer of weight from the heel to the toes. Thus, when this tissue becomes inflamed, even the slightest movement can cause pain.

There are many different factors that can lead to arch pain. Often arch pain can result from a direct cause such as a foot injury or a structural imbalance of the foot, such as flat feet or a low or high arch. However, the most frequent cause of arch pain is a common condition known as plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that results from excessive stretching of the plantar fascia. This is a wide band of fibrous tissue that runs along the bottom surface of the foot. The inflammation of the plantar fascia usually causes pain to occur in the heel and arch areas. If Plantar fasciitis isn't effectively treated promptly, further strain can be placed on the arch and a heel spur (a bony growth) may develop on the bottom of the heel.

The most common symptoms of arch pain are tenderness and pain in the arch region of the foot. Pain is usually severe when pressure is applied to the foot after a prolonged period of rest, such as after waking up from sleep.

The most common treatments used to help alleviate arch pain include:
• Supportive shoes - Avoid wearing high-heels as these shoes place a particular amount of stress on the arch region. Instead, wear footwear that properly fits your foot and provides it with proper support including shock absorbing soles, and a moderate, supportive heel. Furthermore, you should wear shoes to support your feet as much as you can. Also, limit the amount of time you walk barefoot, and don't walk barefoot on hard surfaces.

• Insoles - Special insoles you can insert in your shoes known as orthotics help to alleviate pain by providing your foot with the support it needs to move normally.

• Stretches - Stretching your calf muscle and Achilles tendon causes you to flex your foot, which in turn allows you to stretch the arch. Stretching encourages circulation.

• Massage - Ice massages before bed can help ease sore feet and reduce inflammation. Another effective massage is to rub the bottom of your foot by moving it back and forth over a rolling pin. This helps ease pain caused by plantar fascia.

• Night splint - A night splint can help stretch the plantar fascia while you sleep and prevent stiffness.

• Anti-inflamatory medication - To help ease the pain you can take nonsteroidal anti-inflamatory medication such as ibuprofen. Acetaminophen is also often recommended.
If the above treatments fail to help your arch pain, or pain increases, it's time for you to visit your doctor - or even better - a podiatrist. Remember, if you want to help heal your feet, you need to be good to them.

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