Forefoot pain is very common and it is estimated that around 80% of people will suffer from forefoot pain at some point in their life.
Females are more likely than males to suffer from forefoot pain mostly due to footwear choices. Being overweight can also contribute foot pain as can weakness or tightness in specific muscle groups.
It is important to think back to when the problem started and try to link it to a potential change in activity, or change in footwear to see if there is anything you can do to ease the discomfort. Symptoms can range from a burning sensation to a numbness, or it could just be that it is really painful to walk.
Exercise and support
Strengthening the muscles in the feet (known as the intrinsic muscles) can help, as can stretching out the calf muscles as this can reduce the pressure on the front of the foot when walking.
The video below will demonstrate a range of exercises that might help.There are 7 short videos. Numbers 1 and 2 are relating to calf stretching & Numbers 5 and 6 are relating to the intrinsic muscles, however, you may find the others useful too.
Don’t expect things to improve overnight though. It can take time for muscles and joints to adapt.
Please note: If you do not see any sign of improvement after 6 – 8 weeks of following the advice and exercises, please phone 0141 347 8909 for more advice and support.