Quick guide
This page provides general health information and does not diagnose an individual condition. Persistent, worsening or concerning symptoms should be assessed by an appropriately qualified health professional.
This page provides general health information and does not diagnose an individual condition. Persistent, worsening or concerning symptoms should be assessed by an appropriately qualified health professional.
Understanding the problem
The foot contains 26 bones, numerous joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Because so many tissues are involved, “foot pain” can represent anything from temporary overload to a joint, tendon, nerve, skin or bone problem.
Where does it hurt?
- Heel: plantar fascia, Achilles insertion, heel pad or bone stress problems.
- Arch: plantar fascia, muscle or tendon overload.
- Ball of foot: metatarsalgia, neuroma, plantar plate or sesamoid problems.
- Big toe: bunion, arthritis, gout or sesamoid conditions.
- Top of foot: tendon irritation, joint problems, footwear pressure or stress injury.
- Outside of foot: peroneal tendons, cuboid region or fifth metatarsal.
- Skin and nails: corns, callus, warts, fungal infections or ingrown nails.
What can you do?
- Identify exactly where the pain is and what activity triggers it.
- Review recent changes in exercise, work demands or footwear.
- Choose comfortable shoes and temporarily reduce clearly aggravating loads.
- Do not assume every foot-pain problem needs an orthotic; the intervention depends on the cause.
- Persistent or recurrent pain deserves assessment, particularly if it changes the way you walk.
Seek prompt or urgent care
Seek urgent care for major trauma, deformity, inability to bear weight, a hot red swollen foot, an infected wound, sudden loss of sensation or circulation concerns.
Seek urgent care for major trauma, deformity, inability to bear weight, a hot red swollen foot, an infected wound, sudden loss of sensation or circulation concerns.
The Footpath Health approach
Footpath Health is designed to help you move from a symptom or question toward an appropriate next step without pretending that an online article can make an individual diagnosis. Depending on the problem, that next step may be self-management, podiatry, physiotherapy or GP assessment, imaging or specialist care.
Still not sure what the right next step is?
Tell Footpath Health what is bothering you and we can help guide you towards an appropriate healthcare professional.
Start your Footpath Health enquiry →