Health Preventive Health Aches and Pains Sore Feet? These Common Causes of Foot Pain Could Be to Blame Whether you’re a runner, a lounger, or a high-heel lover, foot pain can really mess with your mobility. Here, podiatrists address what might be ailing those tender tootsies. By Jennifer Benjamin Jennifer Benjamin Jennifer is an LA-based freelance writer, editor, and content creator, with over two decades of experience working for national magazines and websites. As a scribe-of-all-trades, she's written several hundred articles covering a wide range of subjects, including health and fitness, parenting, relationships, beauty and lifestyle. Highlights: Freelance Writer for Health, Parents, SELF, Women's Health, Men's Health, Martha Stewart Weddings, Allure, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Match.com, WE Network, Weight Watchers Magazine. The Bump, The Knot, The Nest. 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Our Fact-Checking Process Foot fatigue, aching, and discomfort are common complaints among people of all ages, especially for those working long hours on their feet (or who wear less-than-ergonomic footwear). What's more, after keeping your feet up during well-earned R&R, you might notice odd aches after returning to your workout routine or cracking open that shoe collection. And once that dull, temporary discomfort progresses to real pain—whether it's on the top or the arch of your foot, the toes, or the ankles—it might be time to see a specialist, such as a podiatrist (foot doctor), to help pinpoint the precise cause of pain and figure out a proper treatment plan. "Foot pain can be debilitating, affecting every aspect of life," says Albert Nejat, DPM, a podiatrist and foot surgeon in Culver City, CA. "Fortunately, most foot pain can be addressed with simple measures, like changing habits, doing stretches, wearing different shoes, and altering your training practices." Again, while some simple end-of-day TLC can help soothe overworked feet, you'll want to see a podiatrist for lingering pains. Considering foot pain is so prevalent, we asked experts to address the most common nagging feet woes—from potential causes of foot pain to helpful remedies. 3 Foot Stretches You Should Do Every Day, According to Podiatrists 01 of 05 Pain on the Top of Your Foot Most often, aches in this area are due to bone trauma like stress fractures, caused by repetitive and/or excessive stress on the bone—and often running (or doing other high-impact activity) in ill-fitting shoes. "You'll need an evaluation and X-ray, as well as immobilization in order to treat it," explains Jane Andersen, DPM, DABFAS, a podiatrist from Chapel Hill, N.C. When Dr. Andersen says immobilization, she really means it: Stress fractures can take anywhere from four to eight weeks to heal, during which time, you'll need to be disciplined about letting it recuperate (e.g., stop running and potentially limit walking to only what's absolutely necessary). Pain on the top of the foot may also indicate a bone spur. "A bony prominence can get irritated by ill-fitting shoes putting pressure on that area," Dr. Nejat says. "You can simply change the way your shoelaces are threaded so it avoids the bump, and doesn't put additional strain on it." Cortisone injections and anti-inflammatories can help reduce pain in the meantime. Another common foot pain cause is tendinitis, often the result of an increase in uphill walking or running. Again, experts suggest altering your workouts to alleviate the stress on those tendons (resting and icing the area can help, too), but if it becomes more persistent, you may need a firm orthotic, topical anti-inflammatory, and possibly occasional cortisone injections. 02 of 05 Pain in the Ball of Your Foot Also known as metatarsalgia, this kind of foot pain has a variety of causes. "Skin concerns like warts and calluses can create superficial irritation and pain, especially since you're consistently putting weight and pressure on that part of your foot," Dr. Andersen explains. "Pain in the tissues themselves can be treated with shoes that have both extra support and cushioning, orthotics, as well as simple calf stretches." If you're a dancer, you may suffer from sesamoiditis, an inflammation in the two bean-shaped bones under the big toe joint. "A simple "dancer's pad" can help reduce the weight-bearing pressure on the area," says Dr. Nejat. He also points out that pain in the ball of the foot may be an indicator of rheumatoid arthritis, which often affects the joint at the base of the toes. Other possible causes of ball-of-the-foot pain, all of which should be seen to by a doctor include: Neuromas: These are a benign growth of nerve tissues that can become painfully inflamed from pressure on the nerve bundle in the underside of the foot, usually between two adjacent metatarsal bones. It can feel like a shooting pain in the ball of the foot, often between the third, fourth, and pinky toes. Wearing narrow shoes or shoes with high heels typically exacerbates it. Bursitis: This an irritation in the bursa sac—a fluid-filled, cushion-like barrier between tissues and bone. "It can occur when you have a genetically enlarged heel bone," says Marlene Reid, a podiatric surgeon in Naperville, Ill. "It's often called "pump bump" because the bone can become irritated from wearing a shoe like a pump with a stiff back." When the unforgiving shoe rubs against the bone, you can inflame the bursa, the protective sac of fluid in the tissue. Plantar plate tears: This is a tear in the thick, protective ligament that runs along the ball of the foot, connecting to the joints. RELATED: These Are the Most Comfortable Slip-on Shoes for Everyday Errands 03 of 05 Pain in the Arch of Your Foot Plantar fasciitis is most often the culprit with arch ailments, and it's usually an irritation in the thick band of tissue that attaches the base of the toes to the bottom of the heel. People with all arch types―high, medium, or low―can be prone to this type of irritation. "It tends to be due to overuse and hyper-pronation or, simply put, flat-footed walking," Dr. Nejat says. "Calf stretching and orthotic arch supports are very effective in alleviating this." If you struggle with plantar fasciitis, you may also want to avoid walking around barefoot—get a pair of supportive slippers to wear the house. Another condition known as posterior tibial tendinitis starts at the foot arch, but can quickly lead to pain in the ankle as well. "If it persists, it can go on to rupture that tendon and lead to adult onset flat foot, which is very disabling," warns Dr. Nejat. Again, you'll likely need to be fitted with orthotics to nip this problem in the bud. 04 of 05 Pain in Your Big Toe Seeing a protrusion at the base of your big toe? That's a bunion and it can create a lot of pain, especially if you're still trying to strut around in regular shoes. "You'll need wider shoes, as well as orthotics, to prevent or at least slow down the further progression of the bunion," explains Dr. Nejat. "In more painful circumstances, you can opt to do surgery." He performs a new procedure known as Lapiplasty, a 3D bunion correction that decreases the chance of a recurrence. If there's no bunion but you still have big toe problems, it could be an ingrown toenail. This occurs when the nail edge grows sideways into the skin of the toe. Pressure on the nail jabs into the surrounding skin, causing discomfort. Wearing shoes that are too tight or too narrow can exacerbate this problem, as can cutting your toenails incorrectly, which you can typically soothe with a foot bath. However, if the pain persists, you'll want to see a podiatrist to rule out infection. RELATED: 4 Beneficial Uses for Epsom Salt—and One You Should Always Avoid 05 of 05 Pain Around the Sides or Bottom of Your Foot If the perimeter of your foot is feeling the pain—meaning either the inside or outside of the feet or the back of the heel is aching—it's likely arthritis, tendonitis, or bursitis. "These inflammations are best treated by a doctor who can evaluate the cause and provide proper treatment, whether that's orthotics, medications, shots, or even surgery," Dr. Andersen says.Regardless of where you're feeling the pain, don't let the malady persist; a quick trip to the podiatrist can identify the cause and help you get back on your feet before anything more serious develops. 5 Hand and Wrist Stretches You Can Do Anywhere Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Real Simple is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Stress Fractures of the Foots and Ankle. Accessed July 21, 2022. MedlinePlus, Tendinitis. Accessed July 22, 2022. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Sesamoiditis. Accessed July 21, 2022. American Podiatric Medical Association, Neuromas. Accessed July 21, 2022. American Podiatric Medical Association, Bursitis. Accessed July 21, 2022. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Plantar fascitiis and bone spurs. Accessed July 21, 2022. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction. Accessed July 21, 2022.