3 Common Causes of Foot Pain from Running
As the coronavirus pandemic has pushed more and more people out of their daily routines, workplaces and gyms, people are taking to the streets in ways they haven’t before. Namely, first-time joggers, gym-goers and bored people everywhere are hitting the pavement in an effort to stay – or get – in shape during quarantine.
Running is an inexpensive and accessible exercise everyone can do to improve their health. In fact, some studies have found that running just five to 10 minutes every day at a moderate pace can reduce the risk of dying from a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, running can help strengthen bones, build muscle and improve overall mood.
Many new runners, however, will quickly experience foot pain from running. And while foot injuries from running are common, the underlining causes vary from runner to runner.
Causes of Foot Pain from Running
Your foot is a complex network of bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons that work together while you run. As such, a running-related foot injury may involve one or more parts of this intricate network. Before deciding whether or not you should see a doctor for your foot pain, you may want to determine if something as simple as changing your shoes or improving your running form could help reduce or eliminate your foot pain after running.
While we always recommend seeking an orthopedic foot specialist or a podiatrist for a proper foot pain diagnosis, the following information may be helpful when determining whether you need to see a foot specialist.
Toe Pain During or After Running: Hallux Rigidus
The big toe plays an outsized role in walking and running. Or – more correctly – the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint that joins the metatarsal bone in the forefoot to the phalanx (first bone of the big toe) is crucial to proper foot function. This joint, which connects the big toe to the rest of the foot, bends every time you take a step and allows your foot to roll forward and push off the ground. Amazingly, this one small joint supports 50% of your body weight during this part of your gait.
Literally meaning “stiff big toe,” hallux rigidus is a form of degenerative arthritis and is the second most common of the big toe after bunions.
While there are a number of biologically-related causes of hallux rigidus, such as osteoarthritis and inflammatory diseases, if you started having pain in your big toe during or after running, it may be due to overuse or injury.
Commonly referred to as “turf toe” in athletes, hallux rigidus can be caused by spraining the MTP joint or stubbing the toe while running. Simple overuse of the joint from running too far or too often can also cause hallux rigidus.
Heel Pain After Running: Plantar Fasciitis
Are you experiencing stabbing pain in your heel or the bottom of your foot after running? Do you experience the same foot pain first thing in the morning and after long periods of sitting?
If so, your foot pain may be plantar fasciitis.
Very common in runners and one of the most common causes of heel pain, plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the thick band of tissues that connects your toes to your heel bone along the bottom of your foot. This tissue – called the plantar fascia – acts as a shock absorber that also supports the arch of your foot when you walk and run.
Excessive tension and stress on your plantar fascia can cause irritation, inflammation and small tears in the tissue, which may result in sharp heel pain. Long-distance running – particularly with poor running form – can cause plantar fasciitis, as can flat feet and high arches.
Thankfully, if your heel pain after running is plantar fasciitis, resting, icing, stretching and improving your running form often can relieve your symptoms. If your pain persists, seeing a foot specialist for a diagnosis is recommended.
Sharp Foot Pain from Running: Stress Fracture
Are you new to running – or running more than usual – and are suffering from acute, localized foot pain? You may have a stress fracture.
Per the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:
“A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone, or severe bruising within a bone. Most stress fractures are caused by overuse and repetitive activity, and are coming in runners and athletes who participate in running sports, such as soccer and basketball.”
Whether you’re running on asphalt, on trails or otherwise, a sudden change or increase in exercise, workout intensity or even switching from the treadmill at the gym to the streets around your home, can cause stress fractures in your foot.
Most often found in the metatarsal bones – the middle bones of your foot – stress fractures in runners are also common in the heel, the ankle, the ankle joint and the top-middle foot bone (navicular). Most stress fractures of the foot are overuse injuries – especially in long-distance runners and those new to running.
As diagnosing stress fractures can be difficult, if you’re experiencing a sharp pain and think you may have a stress fracture, see an orthopedic foot specialist immediately.
If you’ve suffered a foot injury from running or are experiencing foot pain and have questions for an orthopedic doctor, please feel free to contact us. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
28 Comments
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i do run and i only have foot pain on my left foot its right behide my toes i run on the front part of my foot so not sure if its something that i should be worry about
thanks
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Hi William,
It sounds like you may benefit from getting some custom orthotics to provide extra support while running. Dr. Jason Dickerson, our podiatrist, would be happy to help you with that! Give us a call at (435)615-8822 so we can schedule you for an evaluation and scan you for orthotics.
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William, your pain is exactly where my pain is. Did you get help with yours? I slow jog and walk when weather is good outside however we got quite a bit of snow one day so I started slow jog/walking on the treadmill. That is when the pain started a couple of days ago. Now I can’t even bounce on the mini tramp without it exacerbating the problem. Wish there was a solution.
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Hello Dee,
If you are looking for a solution for the same type of pain as William, custom orthotics should do the trick! If you’d like to try them out, Dr. Dickerson would be happy to help. All it takes is a quick exam and scan and we can get those ordered for you. Give us a call at (435)615-8822.
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Hi! This was a very helpful post, thank you. I have been running for a while, but just upped my distance by a couple miles. My right foot has a sharp pain in the outer middle meaty area and hurts when I land on it, walking or running. What do you think that could be?
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Hi Janet,
We’re happy you found our article helpful! The pain you’re experiencing could be a multitude of different issues. It may be plantar fasciitis but the only way to truly determine that would be with a doctor exam. We have a very experienced and exceptional foot doctor at our office, Dr. Jason Dickerson, that could help you pin point what the issue is and get you proper treatment. If you’re interested in seeing him just give us a call at (435)615-8822 and we will get you in asap.
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Can you recommend a home based care for an aching sole? Mostly, my sole aches after running and it gives a nerving effect while walking or after I sit down for a while.
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Hi Anthony,
I would recommend buying orthotics or arch support off of Amazon. Look at reviews of the product to make sure you get the best one. If the pain continues after a two week trial of using your arch support or orthotics, you should get in to a podiatrist for a diagnosis and more effective treatment options. Hope this helps!
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I have love to run and have done it on and off for years. But after a long time of not running (because of all of the Covid stuff) I started again. And all of the sudden I started getting a shooting pain right at the base of my big toe the shots into the middle of my foot. It takes a couple of days for the pain to go away. Then I try again and it all repeats again. Any suggestions on what it could be or a sneaker that might be more supportive would be greatly appreciated.
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Hi Amy,
With this information you provided it could be one of many different things from turf toe to arthritis. You could try a the RICE method for two weeks (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation). However, this issue you have seems to be reaggravated each time you run despite the rest your have probably been giving it. The quickest and most effective way to get the recovery you desire would be to see a podiatrist so you can receive diagnosis and treatment.
A sneaker our podiatrist recommends for extra support is called Hoka. Looks like those can be ordered on the store’s website, Amazon and select stores.
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I’m having excruciating pain in my knees legs and feet after running eighth continuous days on the beach(5-10 miles a day) eeekk I was literally fine for four days and then it all hit. I’ve mainly been resting.
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Rest after strenuous activity is always a good idea. The body needs time to recover and heal. Sounds like some nice scenic running though, being on the beach 🙂
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The bottom of my foot hurts under the big toe and on the joint of the Big Toe. It hurts after I play basketball in my Jordan 1 shoes. What does this mean?
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Billy,
There are a lot of factors that could be causing pain in the joint of your large toe. Without a proper examination, and possibly imaging, I would be unable to give you a diagnosis.
That being said, some of the causes for pain in this area include:
Arthritis or Osteoarthritis, sprains, fractures, bunions, Sesamoiditis, and tendon inflammation.
If you do not recall an injury, like a sprain or fracture, and you do not see a bunion on your foot, you may have Sesamoiditis. This can be caused by overuse and is typically described as a dull pain under the big toe joint that comes and goes.
Honesty though, it could be something completely different. Unfortunately, you won’t know until you see a specialist. Hope this helps.
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I did a 10-mile race. Nothing hurt at all during the race or even the day afterwards. 2 Days after the race, my right foot hurts to the point where I can barely stand on it. I has been several days since and pain has gone away. I have never felt this type of pain before so I am not exactly sure what this is, but it sounds similar to plantar fasciitis, but I feel the pain more in my arch then my heel.
Is it worth going to a doctor now or waiting a few more days to see if it heels on its own? Should I start stretching it now?
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If the pain has gone away I would wait and see if it continues to heal and improve. If you are able to stretch, I would recommend it. Start slow and seek out a Physical Therapist if you need guidance on the type of exercises to do. I would also recommend getting your shoes checked. Make sure you are running in supportive shoes. If the pain returns, it might be time to see a specialist. Happy racing!
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I been a runner for about a decade. I currentlg have pain and tightness in the arch and top of my right foot when I run. No swelling no specific tenderness on palpation.
Previously been fitted for orthotics, however, they gave me significant blisters on my left foot arch so i stopped using them and haven’t had an issue for years, until now. What could this be related to?
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Kelsey, is the pain only when you run, or is it constant?
Orthotics are commonly uncomfortable when you first start wearing them. You need to slowly increase the amount of time you wear them so your feet can get used to the change. That being said, they shouldn’t be leaving blisters.
I would recommend seeing a podiatrist or orthopedic foot specialist to evaluate your pain.
It could be your running shoes, plantar fasciitis, or even a stress fracture. I am unable to give an accurate diagnosis without a proper evaluation.
Your Orthotics, when fitted right, can have a great impact on foot pain. I would recommend having your orthotics adjusted as well. Hope this helps.
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I have an odd pain on the top of my foot between my second and third toe. I’m wondering if it is a stress fracture but no increase in milage and running on a treadmill (Its a million degrees where I live so I run indoors a lot). It started in the last quarter mile of a steady-paced run, does not hurt during any cross training but DOES hurt if I try to run. I’ve also noticed the WORST PAIN when I am walking down stairs… it’s like that second toe must reach out to find the stair first, which I have never realized in my life until now, but that stretch for the next step down is excruciating! The only thing I noticed, out of the ordinary that day was my calf muscles were a TINY bit tight… I noted it early in the run but they loosened up so I kept running. But it has been two weeks and I still can’t run. It’s breaking my heart!
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About 10 years ago, I felt the front of my right foot give in when I was running. Now my foot just on that side has a fallen arch. The podiatrist did x-rays and an MRI, and I spent a thousand dollars on custom orthotics. They didn’t help at all. I started wearing minimalist shoes (Vivo Barefoot), and they worked extremely well. However, this year, I upped my distance too fast/too much training for my first marathon (50 miles a week), and now my right heel hurts when I run. I am also a lot slower than usual. I’m not sure what to do. I tried orthotics again, and they still don’t help. I took a break for a week, and my foot actually hurt more when I tried running again. I’ve started using a heel pad just in my right foot and that helps some, but one leg is so much stronger than the other. Any suggestions? I really want to get back to training.
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Blair, are you actively seeing a Podiatrist and expressing your concerns? What about a Physical Therapist to help you get back to full strength?
Orthotics can be tricky because it takes your foot some time to adjust to them. They can often make your feet hurt more before they start to feel better. I am sorry to hear they didn’t help your situation.
You might be experiencing plantar fasciitis (this is not a diagnosis and there are other soft tissue injuries that can cause heel pain). You mentioned Vivi Barefoot, but I wonder if you would benefit from running shoes that match your pronation type and offer you more support. In addition to supportive running shoes, you might try supportive shoes around the house as well. This could be a pair of slippers that help ease the strain on your heel. Just avoid going barefoot. As frustrating as it might be, you need to give the heel time to heal, and a week may not have been enough time. You can do stretches and light exercises to speed up the process though.
Lastly, talk to your doctor about anti-inflammatory supplements. You may find there is an added benefit from fish oil, turmeric, etc.
Hope this helps you get back to full strength and training in time.
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hello, when ever i run after a short time it feels like my muscle is going over by bone on my right foot on the outside of it
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Zek,
Pain after running can have multiple causes and/or be one of several issues or injuries. Some examples include improper form, inadequate shoes, uneven running surface, sprains, strains, bunions, etc.
I would recommend seeing a podiatrist or foot and ankle orthopedic specialist. They can provide you with a thorough examination, diagnosis and treatment options. Hope this helps.
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Hello,
I am extremely active and always on my feet. I just ran a half marathon and the next day I can barely stand on my right foot. I can walk on my tip toes but if I do full foot, the mid-outer part of my foot hurts a lot. I do have a bunion on that foot and ran on both pavement and trail. What could it be?
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It could be a strain of the fascia that runs along the bottom of your foot. Give it a few days. Be sure you are adequately strengthening and stretching the tendons on the bottom of your feet.
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It’s nice that you mentioned how a running-related foot injury may involve one or more parts of the intricate network. I’ve been having some chronic foot pain for about two months now but I can’t seem to figure out the reason for it. Instead of guessing, I should probably consult with a podiatrist.
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Hi. I have been running for a number of years, long distance triathlon. For about 18month on my right foot from big toe and next 2 in burn about an hour into a run. I’ve got different trainers, sizes but nothing helps. It’s like these 3 just squish together. Today I stopped, took sock off gave them a wiggle and that helped but can I stop this happening. Fairly sure I have a fungal nail infection too but this is in-between toes rather than nails.
Thanks
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Hi there, thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you may be experiencing Morton’s neuroma, a condition where the tissue around a nerve leading to your toes thickens and causes pain. This can be exacerbated by tight shoes or repetitive stress, which could explain why you’re feeling discomfort after running. To help alleviate this, we recommend wearing shoes with a wider toe box to reduce pressure on the toes. You may also benefit from orthotic inserts to provide more support and cushioning. Additionally, addressing any fungal infection is important. Over-the-counter antifungal treatments may be helpful, but for more severe cases, we recommend consulting with an orthopedic foot and ankle specialist.