There are a number of types of foot pain, each with different symptoms. Below is a chart listing the symptoms and recommended footwear or orthotics for each type of foot pain.
| Corns and calluses |
Hard, dead, yellowish skin. Pain over the corn. |
Around toes, usually the little toe; bottom of feet; or areas exposed to friction. |
Wide (box-toe) shoes; soft cushions under heel or ball of foot or customized or gel insoles for calluses. Doughnut-shaped pads for corns. |
| Ingrown toenails |
Nail curling into skin causes pain, swelling, and, in extreme cases, infection. |
Toenails |
Sandals, open-toed shoes |
| Bunions and bunionettes (tailor's bunion) |
Toes point inward. Area next to bony bump is red, tender, and swollen. Toe joint may be inflamed. |
Big toe (bunions) or little toe (bunionettes) |
Soft, wide-toed shoes or sandals. Bunion shields or splints. Thick doughnut-shaped moleskin pad, custom-made orthotics or foot slings if necessary. |
| Morton's neuroma |
Cramping and burning pain around the third and fourth toe. The neuroma may be detected by pressing hard in between the toes. Aggravated by prolonged standing and relieved by the removal of the shoes and forefoot massage. |
Third and fourth toes, and bottom of foot near these toes. |
Wide (box-toe) shoes. Orthotic or insole with pad that reduces stress on the painful area. |
| Hammertoe |
Toes form hammer or claw shape. No pain at first, increasing as tendon becomes tighter and toes stiffen. |
Usually second toe but may develop in any or all of the three middle toes. |
Wide (box-toe) shoes. Toe pads or specially designed shields, splints, caps, or slings. (Splints or slings are not for people with diabetes.) |
| Metatarsalgia |
Acute, recurrent, or chronic pain. |
Ball of the foot. |
Wide (box-toe) shoes. Orthotic with pad that reduces metatarsal pressure. Gel cushions. Metatarsal bandage. |
| Metatarsal stress fracture |
Pain with activities such as running and jumping. |
Area beneath the second or third toe. |
Low-heeled shoes with stiff soles. |
| Sesamoiditis |
Pain and possibly swelling plus local tenderness. |
Ball of foot beneath the big toe. |
Low-heeled shoe with stiff sole and soft padding inside. |
| Plantar fasciitis |
At onset, some people report a tearing or popping sound. Pain, most severe with first steps after getting out of bed, decreasing after stretching, and returning after activity. |
Back of the arch right in front of heel. |
Over-the-counter foot insole (cut quarter-size hole surrounding painful area). Possible night splints. Orthotics if necessary. |
| Haglund's deformity (pump bump) |
Tender swelling aggravated by shoes with stiff backs. |
Fleshy area on the back of the heel. |
Shoes with soft posterior counter. |
| Stress fracture |
Sharp stabbing pain with activity. |
Bottom of heel. |
Stop the offending activity. |
| Tarsal tunnel syndrome |
Numbness, tingling, or burning sensations; pain, most commonly felt at night |
Usually in the mid portion of the foot. |
Specially designed orthotics to relieve pressure. |
| Flat feet or posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD) |
No arch. Often no pain or discomfort. Three stages in PTTD:
pain and weakness in the tendon;
the arch flattens but is still flexible;
the foot becomes very painful to walk or run on, and gait is adversely affected. |
The arch |
For children, possibly custom-made insoles. |
| High arches (cavus feet) |
Lower back pain, possibly a tendency to have lower limb injuries. |
The arch |
Orthotic inserts or special shoes to support the arch. |
| Achilles tendinitis |
Pain worsens during physical activities (particularly running) after which the tendon area often swells and stiffens. |
Achilles tendon: the area behind the ankle near the heel bone. |
Possibly orthotic inserts to balance the foot. |
