Foot pain can affect nearly everything you do, from your first steps out of bed to working a full shift or keeping up with family activities. Many people notice slower walking, trouble standing for long periods, and changes in balance or confidence on uneven ground. Sleep can be disturbed when symptoms flare at night, especially with nerve-related pain. Foot pain is common. About 20 to 30 percent of adults experience frequent foot pain, and healthcare visits for foot and ankle pain increase with age1. Even though it can disrupt work and daily life, most people improve with the right mix of movement, footwear support, and gradual load changes.
What are the symptoms of foot pain?
- Sharp or stabbing heel pain, often worse with first steps
- Aching or burning in the arch or the ball of the foot
- Numbness or tingling between the toes
- Soreness that increases with standing or walking
- Pain when pushing off during walking or climbing stairs
- Stiffness in the morning or after sitting
- Swelling around the ankle or inside of the arch
- Trouble sleeping during nerve or inflammatory flares
- Difficulty balancing or standing on one leg
Did you know?
Most people with sole heel pain get better with simple steps like stretching, strengthening, and supportive shoes rather than surgery9. Foot orthoses, including prefabricated options, can offer small to moderate short-term relief, which surprises many people who expect custom devices to always work better6.
What causes foot pain?
Foot pain can come from irritated soft tissues, strained tendons, overloaded joints, or irritated nerves. Everyday factors like long hours on your feet, sudden increases in activity, or worn-out shoes can place extra stress on the heel, arch, or front part of foot. Foot shape, such as flat feet or high arches, can change how forces are distributed and contribute to discomfort. Common contributors include:
- Increased time on hard surfaces or long periods of standing
- Sudden jumps in activity, like starting a new job or training plan2
- Footwear that is too stiff, worn out, or lacks support2
- Higher body weight, which increases load across the foot3
- Diabetes, which can affect nerves and tissue health3
- Gout or other inflammatory conditions that irritate joints3
- Repetitive impact that can lead to bone stress4
- Nerve compression, such as tarsal tunnel (compression of an ankle important nerve , leading to symptoms like pain, tingling, numbness, and a burning or electrical sensation in the sole of the foot) or interdigital neuroma (swelling and scar tissue formation on the small nerves which run between the bones of front part of the foot)5
When should I see a doctor?
Most foot pain improves with simple changes in activity, supportive shoes, and gentle exercises.
Seek a doctor if you notice:
- Severe swelling, redness, or warmth
- Signs of infection or an ulcer (open sore or wound that fails to heal), especially with diabetes
- Sudden foot shape change or a warm, swollen foot in diabetes
- Numbness that worsens or spreads
- Inability to put weight on the foot after an injury
- Pain that wakes you up at night
- A fall or trauma followed by trouble walking
- Symptoms that do not improve after several weeks of self-care
How is foot pain treated?
Most people recover without surgery. The usual path starts with education, activity changes, and supportive footwear. Exercise-based rehabilitation helps tissues adapt and get stronger. Medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (e.g. ibuprofen) may help short term when appropriate. Injections can be used in some conditions when pain persists, although benefits are often temporary. Surgery is reserved for long-lasting symptoms or specific structural problems. Typical care includes:
- Staying active in comfortable amounts and avoiding long standing when painful
- Exercises that stretch the calf or plantar fascia (thick band of soft tissue which connects the heel to the base of your toes) and strengthen the foot and ankle
- Supportive shoes and, when helpful, prefabricated or custom orthoses (device that supports a body part or body function, like a brace)6
- Short courses of anti-inflammatory medication when appropriate
- Shockwave therapy for stubborn heel pain when exercises alone are not enough7
- Injections for select conditions when symptoms persist8
- Surgery for cases that fail long, consistent conservative care or when fractures or deformities are present Recovery varies. Many people improve in six to twelve weeks with structured exercise and footwear changes, although some conditions may take longer9
Sword's approach
Sword Health helps people manage pain and movement issues with expert-guided AI care you can use from home. Our model combines clinical support with modern technology, designed to work around your life.
Sword makes recovery easier and more accessible. You get high-quality care at home, guided by clinicians and supported by smart technology.
- Care that adapts to your progress in real time
- Licensed experts guiding every step
- Simple, non-invasive, evidence-based programs
- Proven results for pain relief, movement, and satisfaction
Clinical insight
