What Are the Causes of Foot Pain in the Soles Based on Its Location?

Based on the location of your foot pain, some possible causes include:

Heel

Plantar fasciitis

The plantar fascia is a layer of tissue connecting the heel to the toes that helps the toes grip the ground. When it get irritated or inflamed, people often experience pain at the heel or along the arch of the foot. This condition is called plantar fascitis.

Traumatic heel fracture

Typically heel fractures can occur after trauma, car accidents, sports injuries or falls from a height like a ladder.

Heel stress fracture

Stress fractures are overuse injuries that lead to breaks in the bone from wear-and-tear. They can happen in long-distance runners and other athletes due to accumulated strain on bones over time.

Sever's disease

A type of pain that occurs in the heel from inflammation at the growth plate of the heel. During periods of rapid growth, usually the growth spurt from 9-14 years of age, the tendons can pull on the growth plate leading to pain. Children who are more active or engage in running sports are at increased risk.

Midfoot

Flat Feet (Pes Planus)

Some people are born with flat feet while others can develop it over time for a variety of reasons. With flat feet, more pressure is placed on the arch of the foot and can lead to pain in the arch of the foot.

Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD)

The tendon that connects the calf and foot muscles allowing us to stand on our tiptoes can get inflamed. The inflammation of this tendon leads to pain and swelling. It may even progress to flat feet.

Painful accessory navicular

Some people have an extra small bone on the inside of the foot near the navicular bone. This extra bone can become inflamed from increase physical activity leading to pain in the midfoot.

Base of the Toes

Hallux valgus (bunion)

Commonly referred to as a bunion, hallux valgus occurs when a bony callus forms on the inner side of the big toe. The callus then causes the big toe to start bending towards the little toe. As the deformity continues, pain and problems with walking can develop.

Sesamoiditis

There is a small bone called the "sesamoid bone" on the base of the big toe. When this bone gets inflamed from overuse or ill-fitting shoes, the condition sesamoiditis develops.

Metatarsalgia

When the ball of your foot between your 2nd and 4th toes becomes painful, it can often be a result of metatarsalgia, or inflammation at the joints at the base of your foot. It can happen from lots of running or jumping, ill-fitting shoes or occur as a result of other foot deformities.

Morton's neuroma

The nerve going to the toes from the sole of the foot can get compressed near the base of the toes. The nerve then gets irritated leading to a burning sensation or feeling as though a pebble is stuck in your sock.