Foot Pain Diagram:
Identify The Cause Of Your Foot Pain By Location

Foot Pain Diagram

Written By: Chloe Wilson BSc(Hons) Physiotherapy
Reviewed By: FPE Medical Review Board

Foot Pain Diagram: Location chart showing the common causes of top of foot pain, pain under the foot, inner foot pain and outer foot pain. Foot pain diagnosis chart.

A foot pain diagram is one of the easiest ways to narrow down what might be causing pain in your foot or ankle.

Different structures - bones, tendons, ligaments, joints, and nerves - are stressed in different areas, so where you feel pain provides important clues.

The foot pain charts below help you identify the most common causes of foot pain by location. Once you’ve matched your pain to the diagram, you can explore the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and best treatment options for each condition.

Foot Pain Location Charts

Foot pain tends to fall into one of four main regions. Each region contains different structures and is exposed to different stresses during walking, running, and standing.

Front Foot Pain Diagram: Work out what is causing your foot pain using our top foot pain identifier

How To Use Our Foot Pain Diagrams:

  1. Identify the exact area where you feel pain in your foot or ankle
  2. Find the matching area on the diagram below
  3. Use the list to see the most common causes of pain in that location
  4. Follow the links to learn more about diagnosis and treatment

You can also view our foot pain charts to quickly match your pain location with common causes.

Top/Front Foot Pain Chart

Top Of Foot Pain Diagram: Common causes of pain on top of foot chart

Our first foot pain diagram shows common causes of pain on the top or front of the foot.

Pain here is often caused by irritation of the tendons that lift the foot and toes, joint stiffness, or stress fractures from repetitive loading.

  1. Extensor Tendonitis: Inflammation of the tendons that lift the toes, causing pain across the top of the foot, especially with walking or resisted toe extension.
  2. Tibialis Anterior Tendonitis: Irritation of the tendon at the front of the ankle, typically causing pain when walking downhill or downstairs. 
  3. Foot Stress Fractures: Small cracks in the metatarsals or other foot bones, caused by repetitive overloading or sudden activity increases.
  4. Toe Deformities (Claw, Hammer & Mallet Toes): Abnormal bending of the toes due to muscle imbalance or footwear pressure, causing pain and irritation on top of the toes.

There are lots of other less common causes of top of foot pain such as Sinus Tarsi Syndrome and Shin Splints. Find out all about the causes, symptoms and treatment of each in the pain on top of foot section. 

Bottom Of Foot & Heel Pain Diagram

This foot pain diagram looks at the common causes of pain under the foot and pain around the heel.

Bottom Of Foot Pain Diagram: Common causes of pain underneath the foot. Use this foot pain chart to help you work out what is wrong.
  1. Plantar Fasciitis: Inflammation or degeneration of the plantar fascia causing heel pain that is worst first thing in the morning or after rest.  Worse when you first start to walk, standing on tiptoes and walking up stairs
  2. Heel Bone Spurs: Abnormal bony growths on the underside or back of the heel that can cause pain when walking or standing
  3. Achilles Tendonitis: Overuse injury of the calf muscles and Achilles tendon, leading to pain, stiffness, and sometimes swelling at the back of the heel
  4. Heel Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursa at the back of the heel from repetitive friction causing swelling, tenderness, and pain with pressure
  5. Heel Pad Syndrome: Thinning or irritation of the cushioning fat pad under the heel, resulting in deep, bruised-type pain
  6. Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: Compression of a nerve on the inner ankle causing burning, tingling, or shooting pain into the heel and arch
  7. Mortons Neuroma: Thickening of the nerve between the toes causing sharp, stabbing pain in the ball of the foot, often described as walking on a pebble

There are a number of other less common causes of pain in this area such as sesamoiditis, os trigonum, plantar fibromatosis and metatarsalgia. Find out more about foot arch pain and heel pain causes.

Inner Foot Pain Location Chart

Inner Foot Pain Diagram: Diagnosis chart for pain on inside of foot - common causes, symptoms and treatment

This diagram shows common causes of pain along the inside of the foot.

Inner foot pain is often linked to arch-supporting structures such as tendons, or big toe joint issues.

  1. Posterior Tibial Tendonitis: Inflammation or degeneration of the tendon that supports the foot arch, causing pain and swelling on the inner ankle and difficulty standing on tiptoes
  2. Foot Bunions: Deformity of the big toe joint causing pain, swelling, and pressure along the inner forefoot
  3. Hallux Rigidus: Arthritis of the big toe joint causing stiffness, swelling, and pain, particularly when pushing off during walking
  4. Gout Foot: Build-up of uric acid crystals in the big toe joint causing sudden, severe pain, swelling, and redness

There are lots of other conditions that can cause inner foot pain such as Tarsal Coalition and Accessory Navicular issues. Find out more about pain on inside of foot and big toe pain and how to treat them.

Outer Foot Pain Diagnosis Chart

Outer Foot Pain Diagnosis Chart: Find out what is causing your pain and how to treat it with our pain on outside of foot diagram

This diagram highlights common causes of pain along the outside of the foot and ankle.

Outer foot pain is often caused by ligament, tendon, or bone injuries.

  1. Twisted Ankle Sprain: Injury to the lateral ankle ligaments that causes pain, swelling, and instability, usually from rolling your ankle
  2. Peroneal Tendonitis: Inflammation of the tendons running behind the outer ankle, often after ankle sprains
  3. Cuboid Syndrome: Irritation or subtle displacement of the cuboid bone causing sharp pain along the outer midfoot, often after ankle injuries.
  4. Fifth Metatarsal Fractures: There are lots of different types of fracture of the fifth metatarsal, depending on where the bone breaks. Usually caused by twisting injuries or awkward landing

There are a number of other things that can cause pain in this area such as bunionettes. Find out more in the pain on outside of foot section.

Common Foot Pain Symptoms Linked to the Diagrams

Different symptoms can indicate different causes of foot pain, from tendon injuries to nerve irritation. If you’re unsure which condition best matches your pain location, looking at your other symptoms can help narrow things down.

Common foot pain symptoms include:

What to Do Next

Identifying the cause of your foot pain is the first step toward effective treatment. Many foot problems improve with simple measures such as activity modification, supportive footwear, stretching, and strengthening exercises.

However, you should seek professional assessment if:

  • Pain is severe or worsening
  • You cannot bear weight
  • There is significant swelling or deformity
  • Symptoms persist despite rest
  • You experience numbness, weakness, or night pain

If you are unsure about your pain, a professional foot pain diagnosis can pinpoint the exact cause and guide treatment.

FAQs on Foot Pain Diagnosis

Here you'll find answers to the most frequently asked questions about foot pain diagnosis.

Q1: Why does my foot hurt without an injury?

Foot pain can appear gradually from overuse, poor footwear, flat feet, or arthritis. Sudden pain without trauma may be due to gout, nerve irritation, or stress fractures.

Q2: Can nerve issues cause foot pain?

Yes. Tingling, burning, numbness, or shooting pain often points to nerve irritation such as tarsal tunnel syndrome, Morton’s neuroma, or peripheral neuropathy. Nerve pain may come with altered sensation, making it different from muscle or bone pain.

Q3: How can I tell if my foot pain is serious?

Seek professional help if you have:

  • Severe or worsening pain
  • Inability to bear weight
  • Swelling, redness, or deformity
  • Persistent numbness, weakness, or night pain

These signs may indicate fractures, severe tendon or nerve issues, or infections.

Q4: Can shoes or activity trigger foot pain?

Absolutely. Tight, narrow, or unsupportive shoes can worsen bunions, toe deformities, or plantar fasciitis. High-impact activities like running or jumping can strain tendons, joints, and bones, increasing the risk of stress fractures or foot tendonitis.

Q5: What should I do first if my foot hurts?

Start with rest, supportive shoes, stretching, and ice. Persistent, worsening, or mobility-limiting pain should always be evaluated by a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Q6. What are the most common causes of foot pain?

Foot pain can come from many sources, depending on location and activity. Common causes include:

Q7. How do I perform a foot pain diagnosis at home?

Check exactly where it hurts, note swelling or stiffness, track triggers like walking or running, and compare with a foot pain diagram. Seek professional help if pain is severe or persistent.

Foot Pain Diagram Summary

A foot pain diagram is one of the easiest ways to understand what’s causing your discomfort. By identifying exactly where your foot hurts you can narrow down potential causes, from tendon and ligament injuries to stress fractures or joint problems.

Symptoms like swelling, burning sensations, numbness, stiffness, or sharp pain can provide additional clues, helping you match your experience to the correct condition.

Many foot problems improve with supportive footwear, rest, stretching, and strengthening exercises, but persistent or severe pain should always be evaluated by a professional.

Using a foot pain diagram empowers you to quickly pinpoint possible issues, explore causes, and take informed steps toward treatment — helping you stay mobile, active, and pain-free.

Our foot pain charts show the top, bottom, inner, and outer regions of the foot and help you identify potential causes of pain. You may also find these guides helpful to identify foot pain:

There are other common causes of foot and ankle pain not seen on the foot pain diagrams here such as Trench Foot and Foot Cramps but these tend to give more general symptoms throughout the foot rather than causing pain in specific places as shown on these foot pain diagnosis charts. 

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References

  1. Foot Pain. NHS UK
  2. Foot Pain & Problems. John Hopkins Medicine
  3. Common Painful Foot and Ankle Conditions: A Review. The Journal Of The American Medical Society - JAMA
  4. Understanding The Nature And Mechanism Of Foot Pain. Journal Of Foot & Ankle Research

Page Last Updated: 4th February, 2026
Next Review Due: 4th February, 2028