Sesamoiditis

Do you experience pain inside the ball of your foot? Especially when on your tiptoes or stepping off to walk? It could be the condition that podiatrists call sesamoiditis.

There are two small round bones called sesamoids under the ball of the foot behind the big toe. They lie within a tendon and work like your kneecap. Because they sit lower than the bones surrounding them, they occasionally get injured or inflamed. Sometimes sesamoid bones break into smaller pieces that may need to be surgically removed.

If you are experiencing pain localized in the ball of your foot behind the big toe, see a podiatrist for an x-ray to rule out more serious conditions.

How Footwear Can Help

Abnormal mechanics when walking typically cause sesamoiditis. Good shoes with padded inserts designed to lessen weight on the sensitive area will often alleviate sesamoiditis symptoms.

Abnormal mechanics when walking typically cause sesamoiditis.