Orthopedics Leg, Foot & Ankle Common Causes of Foot Pain What's going on and what to do about it By Laura Inverarity, DO Laura Inverarity, DO Laura Inverarity, PT, DO, is a current board-certified anesthesiologist and former physical therapist. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 07, 2023 Medically reviewed by Lyle T. Modlin, DPM Medically reviewed by Lyle T. Modlin, DPM Lyle T. Modlin, DPM, is board-certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and has been in practice for over 30 years. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Types Plantar Fasciitis Posterior Tibial Tendonitis Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Bunions Hammertoe Metatarsalgia Turf Toe Morton's Neuroma Physical Therapy When to See a Doctor Frequently Asked Questions As shock absorbers, your feet cushion up to one million pounds of pressure during a single hour of strenuous exercise. They also support 1.2 times your body weight during walking, and two to three times that during running activities. It is not hard to see why feet are highly susceptible to injury. If you wake up and suddenly feel pain in your feet, what is going on? You probably want answers as well as information on how you can get better, such as whether a physical therapist can help treat your foot pain. Foot pain is a frequent cause of visits to podiatrists and orthopedic physicians. With more than 26 bones, 33 joints, and five ligaments, many structures in the foot can be injured. When these structures become injured or overstressed, it can cause pain, and that can limit your ability to walk. This article discusses some of the most common causes of foot pain, and how these conditions can be treated and prevented. Mindful Media / Getty Images Types of Foot Pain Pain can strike in different areas of your foot. Certain conditions are commonly associated with these areas. They include: Bottom of the foot: Plantar fasciitisArch of the foot: Posterior tibial tendonitis, tarsal tunnel syndromeBall of the foot/toes: Bunions, hammertoe, metatarsalgia, turf toe, Morton's neuroma Plantar Fasciitis Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of foot pain. It results from irritation of a thick band of tissue, called the plantar fascia, that runs across the bottom of your foot. This fascia connects your heel bone to your toes. People with plantar fasciitis experience pain across the bottom of the foot, typically near the inner part of the heel. Discomfort with plantar fasciitis is more common in the morning after waking up and with strenuous exercise like running. Some people also feel the heel pain while simply walking. Treatment Physical therapy for plantar fasciitis involves treatments that decrease inflammation and improve the function of your foot, ankle, and leg. Exercises for plantar fasciitis may include: Stretching Strengthening exercises Balance exercises These exercises may also help prevent the condition from reoccurring. 7 Things You Should Do Now to Treat Foot Pain from Plantar Fasciitis Posterior Tibial Tendonitis The posterior tibialis tendon runs down your inner lower leg and attaches to the bottom of your foot near the inside of the arch. The tendon helps support your foot's natural arch. Irritation of the tendon may cause pain, limited walking ability, and flatfoot deformity. Posterior tibial tendonitis is also called posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. Treatment Treatment for posterior tibial tendonitis may include exercises for: FlexibilityStrengthBalanceReducing inflammation Your physical therapist (PT) or healthcare provider may also recommend orthotics, medical devices that are worn inside the shoe. Your PT can examine you and determine the best treatment for your posterior tibial tendonitis. Continuing with exercises and orthotics can help keep it from coming back, as can surgery. Physical Therapy for Posterior Tibial Tendonitis Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Tarsal tunnel syndrome occurs when the main nerve that goes to the foot is compressed by bone or tissue. You may be more familiar with a similar condition in the wrist called carpal tunnel syndrome. The symptoms of tarsal tunnel syndrome are typically felt on the inner side of the foot and include burning, tingling, and shooting pains. Treatment Treatments for tarsal tunnel syndrome includes: Anti-inflammatory drugsOrthoticsChanges in footwear If these fail, a surgical procedure called tarsal tunnel release may be an option. You may be able to prevent tarsal tunnel syndrome by warming up before strenuous activity and keeping the muscles in the area strong and flexible. Bunions A bunion is a bony protrusion at the base of your big toe, on the inside of your foot. It's caused by a misalignment in the joint. It can make your big toe point inward, even to the point that it overlaps the second toe. The lump can be painful, make your shoes uncomfortable, and change your balance and the way you walk. Treatment Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) are common for treating bunion pain. Your healthcare provider may also recommend corticosteroid injections. Other things that might help include: Bunion padsSplintsOrthotics Physical therapy exercises for bunions include muscle strengthening to improve joint alignment and range-of-motion exercises to keep the joint moving. Surgery may be an option if physical therapy isn't effective. Many bunions can be prevented by: Wearing properly fitting shoesAvoiding high heelsGiving your feet a break from shoes when possible Keeping your feet strong can also help prevent bunions. Getting Rid of Bunion Pain Hammertoe Hammertoe usually affects the second, third, or fourth toe. Like bunions, it's caused by a misaligned joint that pushes tissue from the ball of your foot forward and underneath your toes. Eventually, it can cause your toe to take on a claw-like or hammer-like shape. Hammertoe can cause pain in the toe and ball of the foot. Treatment Hammertoe can be treated by: Wearing loose-fitting shoesWearing hammertoe padsIcingStrengthening and stretching exercisesIn severe cases, surgery Hammertoe can be prevented by avoiding: High heelsNarrow shoesShoes that crowd your longest toe Surgery for Hammertoe Metatarsalgia Metatarsalgia is a painful foot condition affecting the ball of the foot. It is called metatarsalgia because the bones in this region of the foot are named the metatarsals. A lot of jumping or running activities increase the stress load on this region, and over time, the metatarsal bones can become swollen and painful. Some types of arthritis can also contribute to this condition. Treatment Metatarsalgia treatment often involves: NSAIDsProper footwearMetatarsal padsOrthotics Shoes with a wide toe box and good support can both help treat and prevent metatarsalgia. Understanding Metatarsophalangeal (MTP) Joint Disorders Turf Toe Turf toe is a sprain at the base of the big toe. It occurs when the big toe bends back beyond its normal range of motion. This can cause a tear in the ligaments that support it. Turf toe often occurs when kicking a soccer ball, or missing the ball and kicking the ground. Pain with turf toe is experienced during walking and running activities. You may also experience toe cramping. Treatment Physical therapy for turf toe involves managing inflammation around your foot and toe and gently restoring normal mobility to the affected toe or toes. To prevent turf toe, you can learn proper running mechanics and wear hard-soled shoes during exercise. Turf Toe vs. Gout: How to Tell the Difference Morton's Neuroma Morton's neuroma causes a sharp, stabbing pain when you walk or put pressure on your foot. It's caused by thickening of a nerve between your toes, usually between the third and fourth toes. This often happens because of an injury. At first, symptoms may only be occasional, but they may become more common or even constant as the condition develops. Treatment Morton's neuroma is treated with: NSAIDs Cortisone injections Resting the foot Wearing wide-toed shoes and metatarsal pads Physical therapy Sometimes surgery You can help prevent it from developing by staying away from high-heeled or pointy-toed shoes. Can Morton's Neuroma Be Cured? Physical Therapy for Foot Pain Physical therapy is one of the main ways to treat the symptoms of foot pain from many different causes. Gentle stretching of the foot often helps to alleviate the discomfort felt due to the above disorders. Your physical therapist can also offer strategies to help treat your pain and improve your foot function. For example, an ice bottle massage may help control pain and inflammation. A PT may also be able to help you correct walking and running mechanics. This can help alleviate and prevent foot problems. Understanding If You Need Physical Therapy When to See a Healthcare Provider Foot pain can be a difficult thing to manage. It can prevent you from walking normally and may limit your ability to enjoy normal work and recreational activities. If you regularly have foot pain or it seems to be getting worse or more frequent, talk to your healthcare provider. It is especially important to seek medical advice if you notice changes to the size and appearance of your joints. Ask whether a physical therapist could help you overcome foot pain and return to your normal active lifestyle. Summary Your foot contains dozens of structures that can be injured. Damage to these structures can cause pain and make it hard for you to walk. Foot pain can affect the bottom of your foot, the arch of your foot, or the ball of the foot and the toes. Each type of pain and the condition that causes it is treated in a different way, but some treatment strategies include stretching and strengthening exercises, anti-inflammatory drugs, and orthotics. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary. If you have severe or recurring pain in your foot, contact your healthcare provider. They may be able to recommend physical therapy or additional treatment to help you get back on your feet. Frequently Asked Questions Why do my feet hurt when it's cold outside? Cold temperatures can aggravate foot pain caused by certain conditions. Plantar fasciitis and arch and heel pain are some conditions that may be exacerbated by colder temperatures. Additional foot problems such as frostbite can occur with extreme cold. Can you get arthritis in your feet? The short answer is yes. Arthritis can affect any joint in the body, including those joints in the foot and ankle, causing inflammation and pain. While there is no cure for arthritis, there are treatment options to help manage discomfort, including physical therapy, medications, and some surgical options. 20 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Mueller S, Carlsohn A, Mueller J, Baur H, Mayer F. Influence of obesity on foot loading characteristics in gait for children aged 1 to 12 years. PLoS ONE. 2016;11(2):e0149924. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0149924 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Plantar fasciitis and bone spurs. Lim AT, How CH, Tan B. Management of plantar fasciitis in the outpatient setting. 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Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2018;10(4):91-103. doi:10.1177/1759720X17753337 By Laura Inverarity, DO Laura Inverarity, PT, DO, is a current board-certified anesthesiologist and former physical therapist. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit