The ball of your foot is the part of your foot that’s located between your arch and toes.
Because of its position, the ball often receives a lot of trauma and overuse. When you walk, your weight is transferred from your heel to the ball of your foot, but if the weight is not transferred properly, there can be pain and swelling. Pain isn’t always a sign of serious injury –but it can be a warming sign –and shouldn’t be ignored.
Additionally, as you age, the pad of fat that’s located beneath the ball of your foot starts to go away. This causes abnormal pressure and shock to the ball of your foot, causing pain and swelling. Improper footwear, arthritis, and high heels can also cause foot pain, due to the extra pressure on the ball of your foot. Other foot-related problems such as hammertoes can cause extra pressure to the ball of your foot as well.
If you’re experiencing pain or swelling in the ball of your foot, here are a few things that you can do.
Insoles
Proper insoles can help to lift the arch and transfer the pressure away from the ball of your foot, properly distributing your weight across your foot and relieving the pressure.
Proper Footwear
High heels put a lot of unneeded pressure on the ball of the foot. Limiting how often you wear high heels, and ensuring you wear proper footwear for the various activities that you do can help to reduce the chances of having pain in the ball of your foot.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight can help ensure that there isn’t additional stress put on the ball of your foot.
If you are experiencing regular or persistent foot pain –contact a podiatrist to obtain a diagnosis –and discover treatment options that may be available to you.
For foot treatment in Houston, Texas contact Dr. Lamarra of Shepherd Square Podiatry today.