Metatarsalgia
Pronunciation: met-ah-tar-SAL-jee-ah
Pain and inflammation in the ball of the foot, centred around the metatarsal heads, often addressed orthotic intervention.
Full Definition
Metatarsalgia is a symptom complex rather than a discrete diagnosis, characterised by pain localised to the plantar surface of the metatarsal heads, typically worsened by weight-bearing. It may arise from pes cavus, hallux valgus, neuroma, or ill-fitting footwear. Orthotic management commonly includes metatarsal pads or bars designed to redistribute pressure proximally. Editors must take care not to confuse metatarsalgia with Morton's neuroma, which is a discrete nerve-compression condition also presenting in the forefoot. In clinical notes, the specific metatarsal head(s) involved should be identified by number (e.g., second and third metatarsal heads).
Usage
Usage note: Metatarsalgia describes a symptom, not a specific pathological entity. Flag documents that use it as a standalone diagnosis without identifying the underlying condition.
In Context
- "The orthotic was modified with a metatarsal pad to relieve the patient's chronic metatarsalgia beneath the second and third rays." — Orthotic modification note
- "Metatarsalgia is a symptom, not a diagnosis; editors should query the clinician if it appears in the diagnostic field without an underlying cause." — Editorial style guidance