What Causes Pain The Ball Of The Foot (Metatarsalgia)?

Hammertoe

A hammertoe deformity may cause individuals to be more likely to develop pain in the ball of their foot as a symptom of their toe abnormality. Hammertoe describes a bending deformity that occurs in the first or second joints of the individual's second, third, fourth, or fifth toes. The toes appear to point in a downward direction instead of pointing straight forward in individuals with hammertoe. Hammertoe is caused by abnormal contracture or tightening of the tendons that hold the toe joints. All of an individual's toes perform functions important to the foot and even the spine. The toes are supportive because they keep in contact with the ground seventy-five percent of the time when an individual is walking. They help better distribute an individual's body weight throughout the foot by exerting pressure during movement. This mechanism of the toes helps support an individual's posture and upright balance. An untreated hammertoe deformity can cause the individual's metatarsal bones and toe joints to become misaligned, compromising the function of the toes and causing inflammation and pain.

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