Everyone experiences foot pain for one reason or another; in many cases it goes away after a while and is nothing to worry about.
But when your foot pain is chronic, or starts to interfere with your daily life, then it is worth looking into the possible causes. The sooner you learn the root cause of your pain, the sooner you can start getting proper treatment and avoid aggravating it further.
Note: The content in this article is intended for general information purposes only. Consult a healthcare professional if you need a diagnosis.
Seek medical help immediately if any one of these applies:
The following conditions can cause pain in various parts of the foot.
A sprain refers to an injury to the ligaments, the bands of elastic tissue that connect bone to bone. Sprains in the foot typically happen at the ankle, midfoot, or toes, often due to abnormal twisting of the foot due to a misstep or accident.
A strain refers to an injury to either muscles or tendons (the tissues that connect bone to muscle). Strains often happen due to overstretching or overuse.
Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that provide cushioning between our bones and soft tissues. Bursitis is when these become inflamed; this can happen due to arthritis, repetitive stress, or acute injury.
A fracture is an either complete or partial break in a bone. Fractures are often the result of acute injury; however, repetitive overuse and pressure can also gradually cause tiny cracks called stress fractures.
Arthritis is a broad term referring to swelling or inflammation at the joints. Osteoarthritis, specifically, is a degenerative form of arthritis in which the cartilage surrounding the ends of your bones becomes worn down. This results in your bones rubbing against each other, thereby causing pain.
There is no cure for arthritis, but there are various ways to manage it and slow its progression (and prevent the likelihood of developing it in the first place). This includes maintaining a healthy weight, proper nutrition, as well as strengthening muscles to maintain healthy movement patterns and reduce the demands on our joints.
The plantar fascia (plantar referring to the sole of the foot) is a thick, strong band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot and connects the heel bone (calcaneus) to the base of the bones in your midfoot (metatarsal bones).
The plantar fascia can become inflamed due to a number of reasons, including overuse (such as in sports or spending long periods walking or standing), flat feet, improper footwear, and tightness in surrounding muscles.
In most cases, plantar fasciitis resolves after several months of conservative treatment (which can include rest, stretching, and physiotherapy).
Tendonitis is a broad term referring to inflammation of the tendons, the strong, elastic bands of tissue that connect muscle to bone. Tendons can become inflamed due to:
Cases of tendonitis vary in severity, and healing time can range from several weeks to several months.
Gout is a type of arthritis caused by buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints. Gout flares cause the affected joint to become painful, swollen, warm, and highly sensitive to touch.
Uric acid comes from the breakdown of purines, which are found naturally in the body as well as in certain foods. Normally, uric acid gets dissolved in the blood, passes through the kidneys, and is excreted as urine. In some cases, however, the body produces too much uric acid or the kidneys are unable to excrete enough.
Infants are generally born with flexible feet that are flat (no arches). The arch in our feet typically develops in our early years, and we outgrow flat feet by around age 6.
Flat feet, or fallen arches, generally occurs when either
Flat feet don’t always necessarily cause pain, but they can, especially if it causes the foot to overpronate, or roll inward while walking or running. A physiotherapist can recommend exercises to help correct the gait and imbalance issues caused by flat feet, as well as specific footwear that provide arch support.
Comparison of a foot with a normal arch versus a flat foot.
Peripheral neuropathy refers to damage or disease affecting the nerves. The injury to the nerves can cause numbness, tingling or burning, pain, and weakness in the surrounding muscles.
Neuropathy is one of the complications that can occur among people with diabetes (diabetic neuropathy) and autoimmune diseases. It can also occur as an effect of alcoholism.
A bunion is a toe deformity that appears as a bony bump at the base of your big toe. This is often caused gradually by prolonged exposure that pushes the big toe inwards towards the second toe (such as in the case of pointed or narrow shoes.)
A bunionette is when this happens to the other side of the foot, as a result of the pinky toe being pushed inwards.
A bunion and bunionette.
These are the common conditions associated with pain in specific parts of the foot and ankle. Refer to the “Common Causes of Foot Pain, Explained” section above to learn more about these conditions.
This foot pain chart shows common causes of pain in certain parts of the foot.
Possible causes of pain on the top of the foot are:
Pain at the sole of the foot is often caused by:
Pain at the heel is often caused by:
Pain in the back of the foot is often caused by:
Pain in one or more of the toes is often caused by:
Whether your foot pain is chronic or caused by acute injury, our team of physiologists and occupational therapists are here to help.
We will begin with a careful and thorough assessment, and then use the most effective physiotherapy modalities to not only alleviate your pain and discomfort but also address the cause of the problem as much as possible.
Message us through our contact form or call 02 8808 4000.