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Home Service Podiatry Your Feet Your Health MSK Advice and Support Forefoot Pain Pain in the Forefoot Patient Information

Pain in the Forefoot Patient Information

Our aim is to give you some understanding of the problems you have with your foot, and to provide some advice on how to manage this.

  • What are the possible causes of pain in this area?

    One of the main causes of pain in this area is footwear.

    Research suggests that there is a high association between ill-fitting footwear and foot pain, with up to 6 out of 10 people (60%) associating pain with shoes they have worn.

    Being overweight has also been shown to contribute as has spending long periods of time standing or walking, whether at work or in activities.

    Finally, tightness or weakness in specific muscles will add to the pressure at certain areas and may well be an issue that needs addressed along with footwear and weight.

    Some specific long term conditions, for example Rheumatoid Arthritis, can also cause pain around this area.

  • What are the possible symptoms?
    • Sharp or burning feeling in the area on the soles of the feet shown above.
    • Feeling like walking on a stone or marble.
    • There may be some numbness or odd sensation.
    • Difficulty finding comfortable shoes.
    • Difficulty or pain when walking long distances, or standing for long periods of time.
  • What tests may be done?

    In the majority of cases of forefoot pain, we do not need an x ray or any other tests to confirm what is wrong.

    The main way to diagnose this problem is through what you tell us and examining your foot.

    Sometimes, however, we may refer you for further investigations to rule out specific problems.

  • What can you do to help this problem?
    • Aim for a healthy body weight.
    • Wear appropriate footwear. You should try to wear wide shoes with a low heel that fit you comfortably. Avoid wearing high heeled, narrow or tight shoes as this will make your pain worse.
    • Follow the advice from your community pharmacist or other healthcare professional about taking medication. It is important to take medication regularly.
    • Rest and massage the feet when they become painful as this will relax the muscles around the nerves and joints.
    • Follow the exercises outlined below.

Exercises

It is important to do these exercises only to the level which you feel comfortable, they can cause some different feelings in your feet and legs but this should only last for a short period of time.

Exercise

Details
Image showing a person doing a calf stretch with their knee straight

Calf stretch, knee straight

 Stand with affected leg behind the other leg, keeping the heel down on the floor and the knee straight.

Lean forward bending the front knee forward until you feel a stretch in your calf and Achilles tendon (ankle area).

Hold 30 seconds and repeat 10 times.
Image showing person doing an exercise where they do a calf stretch and bend their knee

Calf stretch, knee bent

 Repeat as exercise above but with knee of affected leg slightly bent.

If your pain does not start improving after a period of 8-12 weeks of following the advice above, please get referred to your local Podiatry Department to see a Podiatrist who can assess your foot and potentially recommend further treatment or onward referral.

If other treatments do not help and your bunion is very painful you may be referred for surgery.

This will only be decided after consultation with an Orthopaedic Surgeon who will discuss the risks and benefits of surgery with you.
Image showing a foot doing a massage with a tennis ball

Tennis Ball Massage

 While seated using a soft tennis ball, applying pressure under your foot, roll it in all directions under the sole of your foot working it from the heel towards the toes and then from side to side.

Perform this exercise 10–15 times and repeat 2–3 times per day.
Image of a person's foot whilst they're doing an arch exercise

Arch Exercise

 Place your foot flat on the ground, gently press your big toe into the ground,
but be careful not to claw it.Keeping your heel in place, raise your arch upwards and hold for 2 seconds.Repeat 15 times.
Image of a foot doing toe scrunching exercises

Toe Scrunching Exercises

 This is an exercise to strengthen the small muscles of your feet.

Either seated or standing place your foot flat on the ground on top of a towel.

Use your toes to scrunch the towel or paper or pick up your socks.

Repeat this exercise as often as you can.
Image of a person's foot whilst they're doing to extension exercises

Toe Extensions

 This is a demonstration of an exercise to strengthen the small muscles of your feet.

Either seated or standing hold the big toe on the ground and raise all 4 smaller toes off the ground together.

Then keeping the smaller toes on the ground raise the big toe up off the ground.

Repeat both these exercises as often as you can.

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