• Ball of foot pain, while standing or standing on toes.
• Tenderness during toe off (pushing off the ball of the foot during walking).
• Swelling in the fore-foot – this is usually visible on top of the foot.
• Pain when walking bare foot or in flat, hard shoes. Symptoms often settle when wearing cushioned shoes.
• Occasionally results in pins and needles secondary to the effect the swelling has on the surrounding nerves.

Intermetatarsal Bursitis is often present in conjunction with other common fore-foot pathologies, such as Morton’s neuroma and plantar-plate tears. The inflammation from the surrounding pathology leads to irritation of the bursa, resulting in bursitis.

Intermetatarsal Bursitis and its associated ball of foot pain, can be caused by many factors, and is most commonly seen in the active middle-aged population (women > men). Most patients with the condition present with many other foot factors, including but not limited to, the below. If you suffer from any of these and want relief, we offer effective ball of foot pain treatment at each of our Cairns clinics.

• High-arched feet.
• Collapsed metatarsal arch (ball of the foot).
• Poor quality/tight footwear.
• Standing on feet for long periods of time at work.
• Diminished fat pad (cushioning under the ball of the foot).
• Over pronated foot type (foot that rolls in excessively).

A thorough history, biomechanical assessment and Cairns VALD Strength Testing, will generally be sufficient for the diagnosis of Intermetatarsal Bursitis. Imaging can be used to confirm the diagnosis, with ultrasound being the recommended option. For chronic cases that are non-responsive to treatment, MRI is recommended to get a more accurate look at the bursa and to rule out secondary issues.

The ball of foot pain treatment Cairns options, for those with Intermetatarsal Bursitis, are tailored around your individual risk factors. Our Cairns Intermetatarsal Bursitis treatment plans are developed around the severity of the presenting condition. Common ball of foot pain Cairns treatment options, for those with Intermetatarsal Bursitis include:

• For acute cases, rest, ice and elevation is recommended.
• Change of footwear – this usually involves shoes with nice cushioning in the fore-foot as well as adequate fore-foot depth and width.
• In-shoe padding to help support the fore-foot and to off-load the bursa.
• Our custom Cairns orthotics can help to provide biomechanical correction and support the foot.
• If conservative treatment fails, an ultrasound guided cortisone injection is the next step.
• Surgery is rarely required for Intermetatarsal Bursitis as it normally responds well to the above treatment techniques.

As with most ball of foot pain, Cairns treatment is recommended as early as possible for Intermetatarsal Bursitis. There is no exact timeframe for complete resolution of Intermetatarsal bursitis, but conservative treatment with good compliance can have significant improvements over short periods of time. If your Cairns ball of foot pain levels are severe and non-responsive to the usual treatment plan, there may be a combination of issues occurring and can therefore take longer to recover. The team at FNQ Podiatry and Orthotics will be able to assess and provide advice on this. For the rare instances that surgery is required, it can take anywhere between 4-12 weeks to recover depending on your foot biomechanics and what other structures are involved.

Our clinics provide effective ball of foot pain treatment Cairns for a range of patients. So, if you or any of your friends or family are suffering from foot pain, please call our clinic today and we will get you on the road to recovery.