Metatarsal overload
Excess pressure under the metatarsal heads due to foot shape or footwear.
Physiotherapy · Torremolinos
Metatarsalgia in Torremolinos
Pain in the sole under your toes, as if you were stepping on a stone, or with burning and tingling. We identify which structure in the forefoot is overloaded and treat it with a foot-specific plan.
- Free consultation
- Specialist physiotherapists
- Musculoskeletal ultrasound
- Therapeutic exercise
Forefoot
Metatarsalgia: one symptom, several causes
Metatarsalgia means pain in the area of the metatarsals, the front part of the sole just behind the toes. It is a descriptive term: what matters is finding out which structure hurts, because treatment varies a great deal from one cause to another.
The most common causes are mechanical overload of the metatarsal heads (due to foot shape, a longer metatarsal, a high-arched foot or a bunion that shifts load onto the central rays), injury to the plantar plate, which usually affects the second toe and can end up making it drift, and Morton’s neuroma, an irritation of a digital nerve between the metatarsals that causes burning, cramping or numbness in the toes and eases when you take your shoe off.
Narrow-toed or high-heeled shoes, a sudden increase in activity (lots of walking on holiday, taking up running) and weight gain are recurring factors. In runners and people who have greatly increased their load, a stress fracture also needs to be considered.
At Centro Ubud we combine examination of the foot and your gait with ultrasound, which lets us see the plantar plate, the intermetatarsal bursae and any neuroma. With a clear physiotherapy diagnosis we design a plan that combines offloading, exercise and, if indicated, invasive physiotherapy.
This treatment is for you if…
- The sole of your foot under your toes hurts when walking or standing.
- You notice burning, cramping or tingling in your toes, especially in closed shoes.
- It feels like you’re stepping on a stone or a fold in your sock.
- One of your toes is starting to lift or drift apart.
See a doctor if the pain is very localised over a bone after increasing your activity (possible stress fracture), if several joints are swollen with morning stiffness, if you have diabetes with loss of sensation or wounds, or if the area is red and hot.
Causes
What might be causing your metatarsalgia
Morton’s neuroma
Irritation of a nerve between the toes, with burning, tingling or cramping.
Second-toe plantar plate
An injury that causes pain under the toe and can make it drift or overlap.
See claw toes
Associated bunion
Hallux valgus can shift load onto the central metatarsals.
How it works
Your treatment, step by step
01
Free consultation
Examination of your foot, footwear and gait, with ultrasound to pinpoint the painful structure.
02
Treatment plan
We explain the likely cause and plan offloading, exercise and techniques with an approximate number of sessions.
03
Rebuilding load
We gradually reintroduce walking, running or sport so the pain doesn’t come back.
Techniques
How we treat metatarsalgia
Reduce pressure on the forefoot and improve the foot’s ability to tolerate it.
Education
Footwear and offloading
A wide toe box, a low heel and a sole that spreads the load; if you need insoles, we will advise you.
Exercise
Foot strengthening
Exercises for the intrinsic foot muscles, the toes and the calf.
Advanced
Ultrasound-guided invasive physiotherapy
Percutaneous neuromodulation for Morton’s neuroma or dry needling for muscle overload, where indicated.
See invasive physiotherapyManual
Manual therapy
Mobilisation of the forefoot and ankle joints to spread the load more evenly.
UltrasoundNeuroma and plantar plate
FootSpecific approach
ActiveExercise and loading
FreeFirst consultation
Frequently asked questions
Questions about metatarsalgia
What is the difference between metatarsalgia and Morton’s neuroma?
Metatarsalgia is the general name for pain in the forefoot. Morton’s neuroma is one of its causes: an irritated nerve between two metatarsals, with burning or tingling in the toes.
How long does metatarsalgia take to heal?
It depends on the cause. Overload can improve within a few weeks by adjusting footwear and load; a neuroma or a plantar plate injury usually takes longer.
Do I need insoles?
Not always. In some cases offloading under the metatarsals helps. We assess it and, if you need them, we will advise you.
What shoes are best for metatarsalgia?
In general, a wide toe box, a low heel and a slightly stiff, curved sole that reduces toe bending when you walk.
Is the treatment painful?
Most techniques are well tolerated. Needle-based techniques cause brief discomfort; we always explain beforehand what you will feel.
Does Morton’s neuroma always need surgery?
No. Treatment usually starts conservatively; surgery is considered by a specialist when there is not enough response.
How much does metatarsalgia treatment cost in Torremolinos?
It depends on your case, how long you have had it and the techniques recommended. At the free consultation we give you a fixed quote with no obligation.
Where are you and how do I book?
We are at Calle Arenas, 12, in La Carihuela (Torremolinos, Málaga). Appointments are booked only via WhatsApp, and we see patients from Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Málaga and the surrounding area.
Centro Ubud · La Carihuela, Torremolinos
Book your free physiotherapy consultation
Tell us what you would like to improve and we will explain, with no obligation, which treatment suits you.
Calle Arenas, 12 · 29620 Torremolinos, Málaga · Get directions · Patient reviews
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Related treatments
Foot and ankle painFoot physiotherapy →Bunions without surgeryHallux valgus →Claw and overlapping toesToe deformities →Plantar fasciitisHeel pain →Percutaneous neuromodulationNerve-related pain →
All treatments are subject to a prior professional assessment. Results are individual and may vary from person to person. Centro Ubud is an authorised healthcare centre in Torremolinos (Málaga). NICA 64610. Clínica UBUD S.L. · CIF B56756158.