Symptom guide

Foot pain: where it hurts and what it can mean

Heel, arch, ball, toes, top of the foot and ankle: what the location of your pain can point to.

Medically reviewed by Efe Ozturk, DPM · Last reviewed September 29, 2026

A map of foot pain

Use the map as a starting point for a conversation, not as a diagnosis. Causes overlap, and one problem can lead to another.

Heel — plantar fasciitis, a stress fracture of the heel bone, a fat-pad problem
Arch and midfoot — strain of the plantar fascia, flatfoot, midfoot arthritis
Ball of the foot — overload of the forefoot, problems of the toe joints, stress fractures, nerve irritation
Big toe — a bunion, or arthritis of the big toe joint (hallux rigidus)
Lesser toes — hammertoes, mallet toes, claw toes, corns
Top of the midfoot — a Lisfranc injury, a stress fracture, midfoot arthritis
Outer edge — a fifth metatarsal fracture, a stress fracture

Regions of the foot (simplified). Where you feel pain is one clue to the cause. Not shown: pain behind the heel, which often comes from the Achilles tendon, and pain around the ankle. Regions overlap and problems often coexist, so use this as a guide for conversation — not a way to diagnose yourself.

Heel pain

The most common cause of pain under the heel is plantar fasciitis, which is typically sharpest with the first steps after getting out of bed or after sitting, and which eases as you walk.^[6,1] Other causes of plantar heel pain include a stress fracture of the heel bone (pain that steadily worsens after an increase in activity), nerve irritation (pain with burning, tingling or numbness), a fat-pad problem (deep, bruise-like pain in the middle of the heel), and a wart.^[1]

Pain behind the heel is often from the Achilles tendon. A prominence of the heel bone (Haglund deformity) can irritate the tendon and the bursa in front of it.^[1,7]

Arch and inner ankle

Pain and swelling along the inside of the ankle and arch, particularly with a flattening arch, suggest posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, or adult-acquired flatfoot.^[8] Pain in the arch can also come from plantar fasciitis.^[6] Read more: adult-acquired flatfoot.

The ball of the foot and the toes

Bump and pain at the base of the big toe: a bunion. See bunions.
Stiffness and pain in the big toe joint, especially when pushing off: arthritis of the big toe joint. See hallux rigidus.
A lesser toe bent into a hammer or claw shape, with corns on top of the toe: a hammertoe. See hammertoes.
Pain under the ball of the foot, sometimes with a toe that drifts or lifts: metatarsalgia, which can be caused by a plantar plate tear. See plantar plate tears.
Burning, tingling or numbness between the toes, or a feeling of standing on a pebble, can indicate irritation of a small nerve. Our sister practice, Lower Extremity Nerve Institute (external site), evaluates nerve conditions of the foot and ankle.

Top and outer edge of the foot

Pain on the top of the foot after a twisting injury, with bruising on both the top and the sole of the midfoot, can signal a Lisfranc injury (see Lisfranc injuries).^[9] Pain on the outer edge of the foot after an ankle roll can be a fracture of the fifth metatarsal.^[10] A bump at the base of the little toe suggests a tailor’s bunion (see tailor’s bunion), and pain and swelling behind the outer ankle bone, sometimes with a snapping feeling, can be a peroneal tendon injury (see peroneal tendon injuries). Gradually increasing pain after a jump in activity can be a stress fracture, which often doesn’t show up on the first X-ray.^[11] Read more: ankle and foot fractures.

The ankle

Repeated giving way of the outer ankle suggests instability (chronic ankle instability); pain and stiffness after an earlier injury suggest arthritis (ankle arthritis). See also ankle pain and swelling.

Foot pain and diabetes

Diabetes can dull the feeling in the feet, so serious problems may cause little pain. A warm, red or swollen foot, a blister or sore, or a change in foot shape needs prompt attention even if it doesn’t hurt. See diabetic foot ulcers and Charcot foot.^[4,12]

How foot pain is evaluated

We ask where it hurts, when it is worst, what makes it better or worse, what shoes and activities you do, and what you’ve already tried. The examination looks at the whole limb, not just the sore spot: alignment, motion, strength, skin, circulation and sensation, and the way you walk and stand. X-rays taken while you stand are often the first test, and further imaging is chosen according to the suspected problem.^[2,13] See foot and ankle imaging.

When to seek care

Get your foot evaluated if pain lasts more than a few weeks, keeps returning, limits walking or exercise, or changes the shape of your foot.

References

1.Tu P. Heel Pain: Diagnosis and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2018;97(2):86-93. PubMed 29365222 (external site)
2.Said N, Fox MG, Nacey NC, Aslam F, Avery R, Blankenbaker DG, et al. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Chronic Foot Pain: Update 2025. J Am Coll Radiol. 2026;23(4):681-699. PubMed 41701128 (external site)
3.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Bunions. OrthoInfo. orthoinfo.org (external site)
4.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Diabetes and Foot Problems. niddk.nih.gov (external site)
5.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle). OrthoInfo. orthoinfo.org (external site)
6.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Plantar Fasciitis and Bone Spurs. OrthoInfo. orthoinfo.org (external site)
7.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Achilles Tendinitis. OrthoInfo. orthoinfo.org (external site)
8.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Progressive Collapsing Foot Deformity. OrthoInfo. orthoinfo.org (external site)
9.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Lisfranc (Midfoot) Injury. OrthoInfo. orthoinfo.org (external site)
10.American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Fractures of the Fifth Metatarsal. FootHealthFacts. foothealthfacts.org (external site)
11.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Stress Fractures of the Foot and Ankle. OrthoInfo. orthoinfo.org (external site)
12.American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Charcot Foot: Rocker-Bottom Foot Deformity. FootHealthFacts. foothealthfacts.org (external site)
13.Lau BC, Allahabadi S, Palanca A, Oji DE. Understanding Radiographic Measurements Used in Foot and Ankle Surgery. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2022;30(2):e139-e154. PubMed 34768261 (external site)

This page is general health information and isn’t a substitute for advice from a clinician who knows your history. Read our medical disclaimer and how we review content.

Condition
Heel pain and plantar fasciitis
Pain under the heel that is sharpest with the first steps after rest.
Condition
Bunions
A bony bump at the base of the big toe, where the toe drifts toward the second toe.
Condition
Adult-acquired flatfoot
An arch that gradually collapses in adulthood, often with pain along the inner ankle and a heel that tilts outward.
Condition
Ankle and foot fractures
Breaks of the ankle and foot bones, from small cracks that heal in a boot to unstable injuries that need surgery.
Diagnosis guide
Foot and ankle imaging
What X-rays, weight-bearing imaging, CT, MRI and ultrasound show, and how the right test is chosen.
Condition
Ball-of-foot pain and plantar plate tears
Pain under the ball of the foot from a torn or stretched ligament under a lesser toe joint, sometimes with a drifting toe.
Condition
Haglund deformity
A bony bump on the back of the heel that rubs against the shoe and irritates the Achilles tendon.
Condition
Lisfranc (midfoot) injuries
A sprain, fracture or dislocation in the middle of the foot, often mistaken for an ankle sprain.