Metatarsal Pain & Metatarsalgia Insoles

Metatarsalgia is a foot condition characterized by pain and inflammation in the forefoot, particularly around the ball-of-foot and metatarsals. This causes the forefoot, especially the area between the toes and the arch, to become extremely sore, and in some cases, the soreness is secondary to sharp pain.

For most people, this begins as a discomfort rather than pain and is often described as feeling like having a pebble stuck under the foot. Over time, this can escalate into persisting soreness/aching, or in the worst cases a burning sensation, numbness, or sharp pains.

Metatarsalgia and metatarsal pain has a number of causes, but generally speaking the most common causes all involve putting excess strain on the metatarsals of the foot:

1. High-impact activities such as running and jumping, especially if the foot is not properly supported and cushioned.
2. Tight-fitting footwear that squeeze or compress the forefoot and/or toes, such as high heels, narrow dress shoes, and shoes with pointed toes.
3. Foot conditions such as bunions, hammertoes, or cavus foot, which can alter the shape of the foot and put extra strain on the metatarsals.
4. Inflammation from conditions such as gout or arthritis can cause pain and inflammation of the metatarsals.
5. Excess strain on the foot due to lack of support, excess weight, and similar, especially if the foot is not properly supported or cushioned.

To alleviate and prevent metatarsalgia and metatarsal pain, we first want to remove any undue strain on the forefoot. To do this:

1. Avoid wearing any shoes that are particularly tight, or which squeeze the toes.
2. Add a metatarsal pad or metatarsal insole to your shoes to provide extra support for the metatarsals.
3. Provide sufficient ball-of-foot cushioning to your shoes to ensure that you have sufficient pressure and shock absorption.