Can walking barefoot cause metatarsalgia?

A variety of conditions can trigger metatarsalgia, or discomfort in the ball of your foot. Plantar fasciitis, tendinitis, and metatarsalgia are all common foot ailments that can occur whether you walk around barefoot, with socks, or in house slippers (pain and inflammation in the ball of your foot). Choosing shoes with good bottoms, avoiding walking barefoot, and using a pumice stone to remove calluses from the feet are all common treatments.