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Pain in the balls of the feet is called "metatarsalgia," named for the metatarsal bones located just above the arch, in line with the toes but ending just before the toes begin. This pain may be due to a number of causes, including arthritis, structural foot disorders (such as flat feet), weakness of the small muscles in the foot, or injury. Tight shoes, especially those with raised heels that drive the toes into the front of the shoe, are a common culprit.
The type of pain you describe is common. A stress fracture, a benign swelling along nerves between the metatarsal joints (called Morton's Neuroma) or gout come to mind as possible causes. However, while these common disorders may occasionally affect both feet at the same time, they usually affect only one foot at a time.
Many of the more than 100 types of arthritis can affect the foot, but the two most common are osteoarthritis (also called degenerative joint disease or "wear and tear" arthritis) and rheumatoid arthritis. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage lining the joints wears away, causing pain that naturally leads the sufferer to shift weight to other nearby joints. The big toe is often the first to be affected with osteoarthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, there is often inflammation of several metatarsal joints (among many others in the body) causing a dull pain that is worse in the morning. Swelling may be present but can be difficult to appreciate in the foot.
Structural problems in the foot include flat feet, high arches, and loose tendons or ligaments (that may be associated with obesity). Some people are born with these conditions, or they may develop over time for no apparent reason. With abnormal foot structure comes abnormal distribution of weight with walking, and that can cause pain in the balls of the feet. As is the case with arthritis, any painful condition in this part of the foot will naturally lead to shifting of weight away from the painful area; that may lead to more strain on nearby joints, tendons and ligaments. When a person avoids pressure on the painful joints, muscles that move those joints may become weak.
