A Guide To Orthotic Treatment For Metatarsalgia

Before we take a look at some of the benefits of choosing to go with orthotics for this condition, we need to look closer at what metatarsalgia is all about. This is going to be known as a condition where the ball of the foot starts to get inflamed and can be very painful.

It is common for it to show up if you run and jump often or pick shoes that are the wrong size. While this condition is usually not too serious, it can be enough to cause you a good deal of pain and will sideline you.

There are several at-home treatments you can go with, such as rest and ice. The right footwear, like arch supports or insoles that can absorb some of the shocks you feel while walking around can be a good solution too.

Metatarsalgia is a painful condition that affects the metatarsal heads, which are the bones in the ball of the foot. The pain can be sharp, burning, or aching, and it can be worse with standing, walking, or running. Metatarsalgia can be caused by a number of factors, including:

• High-impact activities: Running, jumping, and other high-impact activities can put stress on the metatarsal heads, leading to pain.

• Improper footwear: Shoes with high heels or narrow toe boxes can put too much pressure on the metatarsal heads.

• Obesity: Excess weight can put extra stress on the feet, including the metatarsal heads.

• Age: The fat pad under the metatarsal heads can thin with age, making the bones more susceptible to pain.

• Foot deformities: Certain foot deformities, such as bunions and hammertoes, can increase the risk of metatarsalgia.

There are a few symptoms of metatarsalgia that you can look for to make sure that you provide the best protection for your feet. Some of the most common symptoms of this condition include:

• Pain in the ball of the foot, right behind the toes. This will feel a bit different to each patient and you may notice that it is burning, aching, or sharp.

• A feeling like there is a pebble in the shoe when you take a step down.

• A shooting or sharp pain in the toes. This could also result in tingling or numbness of the toes.

• A pain that tends to get worse when you walk, flex the foot, run, or stand. This pain is often worse when you are trying to be barefoot on a hard surface. It will often get better when you rest.

Most of the time, ice and rest will be enough to help with some of the symptoms you feel of metatarsalgia. But if the pain in the feet tends to get worse and will not go away, then you should talk to your doctor to see what treatment options are going to be the best for you.

In some cases, your foot is going to get out of alignment due to the way that you walk. This can cause additional pressure to get put on the ball of the foot, which is going to make the condition worse and make you feel the pain more than ever before. When you continue to walk this way, it will simply make the pain worse than before.

One of the benefits of going with a pair of custom orthotics is that they will realign your foot so that it can distribute the weight of the foot so that all parts, from the heel all the way to the toes, will take on equal pressure, rather than it getting concentrated on the one part that is causing problems. This gives the ball of the foot a break and can lessen the pain.

When You Have Metatarsalgia, Orthotics Provide Comfort for Your Feet

When you are dealing with metatarsalgia, you will find that there can be a good deal of pain when you walk around. It is helpful to find a pair of orthotics that will provide some additional comfort to the feet, especially in the area of the ball of the feet where a lot of the pain is going to show up.

A good pair of custom orthotics can help. Look for custom orthotics that will allow for extra support and comfort right at the balls of the feet.

This can absorb some of the shocks that you feel when you walk while providing more comfort for some of those hard surfaces and more. Make sure the comfort is right for you before you pick out a pair of orthotics to solve this foot pain problem.

Orthotics Absorb Shock on the Foot and Alleviate Metatarsalgia Pain

When you are athletic and move around on a hard surface most of the day, you will find that it can cause a good deal of shock to the foot and even to the joints. The longer you allow this shock to go untreated, the harder it can be on the ankles, the knees, and even your foot.

You need to find a solution that will keep the joints protected. A good pair of custom orthotics will provide the support that the feet need, and this includes providing shock absorption to the feet as well.

The cushioning and arch support will limit the shock that you feel when it comes to running and jumping and being on hard surfaces, which can protect all areas of the foot, including the ball of the foot.

You will have a few different options when it comes to the types of insoles you can choose for metatarsalgia. The first one is to go with a ¾ length.

These are going to go from the heel right to the ball of the foot and often come with a pad for the metatarsals built right into it. This can help to support the transverse arch, which will reduce the pressure and re-align the foot too.

If you are suffering from a few issues of the foot, such as hammer toes or bunions, it is a good idea to go for this length in the insole that you choose. This will allow you some extra space for the toes to sit naturally so that those conditions have a chance to heal too.

You can also go with a full-length insole as well. These can have a raised support for the bones in the front of the foot or a built-in metatarsal dome.

You can also choose whether you would like to go with an orthotic that is rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible. These orthotics are going to provide you with arch support that gives you stability and can make sure that the natural arch of the foot will not collapse on you.

This type will often have a heel cup that is deep which is beneficial because it will help align the foot better as you are walking around, making sure the foot is comfortable for years to come.