Running and pain in the balls of your feet

Sounds like you could have plantar fasciitis or you run on hard surfaces and your shoes are losing their cushion. If it is plantar, I would use superfeet insoles. They work and they aren’t those extremely hard insoles or flimsy gel insoles. I had plantar which made me researc what running shoes are made for people with plantar fasciitis. I run in the ASICS Kayano, but I don’t know what your arch looks like or your running style. You could also be running in a shoe not made for your foot/running style. Meaning your running style could be hitting the balls of your feet, but your shoe has less cushion there. Clouds are decent shoes, but I tend to recommend ASICS/Saucony/New balance to my runners. If you live in Nola go to Louisiana running and they’ll put you on a treadmill where they take a slow motion videos of how your foot hits and if you are pronating or supinating. Expensive shoes but after you buy once you’ll know what shoe you need. You could also just research how to find out your arch, and run a couple laps while trying to feel if you are overpronating or supinating(underpronating).

All of this is from over 25 years of running, as well as being a local running coach. Hope this helps!

Do you have any medical conditions like diabetes, CAD, or hypertension?

Thanks — I thought about PF but they don’t hurt otherwise like first step in morning or just walking. I life near Lafayette so I go to our local store here. They now have a foot scanner so maybe that will help to make a better decision.

Regarding medical issues, thyroid and that’s about it — no DM or HTN. And I wear Balega and Feetures socks — another other suggested brands??

Don’t think my arch is high — I’ve never been told that it is??

Thank you all.

Metatarsal pad as in an insert?? No I haven’t. And by scraping do you mean rolling like I roll other areas? Thx.

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Podiatrist told me there was nothing "wrong" with my feet and I should quit running.

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Sounds like a crappy podiatrist.

There are a number of things that can cause those symptoms.

Plantar fasciitis can technically occur all the way at the ball of the foot, but it is extememly uncommon.

You're likely dealing with capsulitis or the generic "metatarsalgia" which just means you're forefoot is getting overloaded. This is typically seen in people with excessively tight Achilles (think of your foot as a lever arm).

I would recommend avoiding zero drop shoes as this will exacerbate the effects of a tight calf. Instead of the mole skin you can try either an arch support with built in metatarsal pad, or simply a 3/4 length insert that stops just behind the metatarsal heads.

Stiffer soled shoes tend to be better for forefoot issues.

If you live in the area, I'd definitely recommend varsity sports to be properly fitted.

<--- not crappy podiatrist

quote:

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Sounds like a crappy podiatrist.

There are a number of things that can cause those symptoms.

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My first thought as well.

It definitely sounds like metatarsalgia, but the root cause could bee a number of things. You will need a good podiatrist to figure it out.

Brooks are my personal favorite brand, and what I recommend to most patients. Obviously no one brand or model shoe works for every single person.

Brooks, New balance, Asics, and to some degree Mizunos are going to be a safe choice from their cheapest to their most expensive.

Hoka One One Bondis are the most cushioned running shoe probably on the market. Not a lot of places carry them, but a few of the running specific places will. They have a ton of different colors if the place you go doesn’t have a color you like. But I would also see a podiatrist about the best orthotic for your specific foot/issue. And quit running. Get your cardio through biking, walking, swimming, rowing, anything that’s less jarring on your body.