Treating and preventing metatarsalgia

The following measures will often help improve metatarsalgia and stop it coming back:

  • rest your feet put your feet upregularly and avoid activities that make the pain worse; try low-impact activities such as cycling or swimming instead ofsports that involve a lot of running or jumping
  • usean ice pack apply an ice pack to the affected area for about 20 minutes several times a day (a bag of frozen peas will also work); make sure you wrapit in a towel so it doesn't damage your skin
  • change your footwear tryflat shoes thathave plenty of room for your feet and have a well-cushioned sole; replace any worn out shoes as they could make things worse (read more about choosing sports shoes and trainers )
  • use shock-absorbingpads or insoles these can fit inside your shoes to help cushion your feet;they'reavailable from pharmacies and sports shops,or can be bought online
  • maintain a healthy weight adopting a healthy, balanceddiet and doing regular low-impact exercises can help you lose weight if you're overweight
  • take paracetamol or ibuprofen to help relieve pain and swelling if necessary

Try these measures for afew weeks to see if your symptoms improve.

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018