As temperatures rise and outdoor activities increase, many people return to the sports and hobbies they enjoy most during the warmer months. From running and golfing to pickleball, tennis, biking and weekend fitness routines may prove to be too demanding on the feet and ankles.

If you’ve ever felt like there’s a pebble in your shoe or a burning ache in the ball of your foot that just won’t quit, you might be dealing with metatarsalgia. And while the name might sound intimidating, the condition is more common than you might think—and more treatable than you’d hope.