Metatarsalgia: What it is and how to Find Relief with Metatarsal Pad Insoles.

What is metatarsalgia?

Metatarsalgia is a general term for inflammation and pain in the metatarsals or metatarsal heads in your feet. The metatarsals are the five bones that connect the middle of your foot to your toes. The 'big knuckles' where the metatarsals meet the phalanges (toe bones) are known as the metatarsal heads. They’re right above the fleshy pad of the ‘ball’ of your foot. 

The forefoot area is particularly susceptible to extra strain and pressure that can cause inflammation and pain. Metatarsalgia is felt as tenderness and pain in the balls of your feet or just behind your toes. There are many possible causes of metatarsalgia, including biomechanical issues, specific foot shapes and problems with weight distribution.

 Another common cause is wearing tight shoes that cramp metatarsal heads, squeezing nerves and blood vessels. When your second toe is longer than your big toe, it also puts extra stress on your second metatarsal, which can lead to metatarsalgia. People who play high impact sports and runners are particularly at risk, as their feet take a lot of strain in their regular routine.  

Treating metatarsalgia with metatarsal pad insoles.

You can get relief from metatarsalgia by adding a metatarsal (met) pad to your footwear. 

A metatarsal pad supports the metatarsals in their natural position and spacing, preventing them from becoming cramped. 

A metatarsal pad also helps to promote the natural positioning of your shock-absorbing tissue to prevent your feet from absorbing excess stress. 

Lastly, a metatarsal pad helps to ensure that pressure is efficiently distributed and that no one point of your foot is carrying more weight than it can handle. 

A great option for using met pads is to add supportive insoles that include a metatarsal pad to your footwear (try our footbeds with built-in met pads for 15% off!). Supportive insoles help the feet carry their load and distribute pressure evenly. Insoles offer relief to people who suffer from plantar fasciitis or other foot injuries. An insole with a met pad also offers relief from metatarsalgia. 

Runners with metatarsalgia are particularly likely to benefit from supportive insoles with metatarsal pads. This is because the insoles will also help promote a neutral alignment and maximize biomechanical efficiency through each stride.

SOLE Met Pad insoles for metatarsal pain.

Our footbeds with Met Pads include a built-in metatarsal pad. Many met pad products can be cumbersome or difficult to accurately place in your shoe. The SOLE footbed slides straight into your shoe, with the met pad perfectly positioned to support your metatarsals and offer relief from your metatarsalgia pain. 

Our industry-leading supportive shape is also clinically proven to reduce plantar fascia strain by up to 34% while promoting neutral alignment and distributing pressure evenly. The combined effect is to provide relief and prevent further injury by protecting all of your feet’s intricate mechanisms.

Metatarsal pad insole reviews:

 “Recently I developed a Metatarsal injury on my left foot. I went through the routine of resting, icing and stretching without success. I thought for sure that I would have to take an extended time off from running. I tried various inserts to provide more protection for the foot. I even had a custom insert made by an orthopedic doctor. None of these attempts provided the protection I needed. On a visit to my local Performance Footwear running store, I noticed the SOLE display. I thought I had to give them a try. Not only did SOLE Custom Footbeds allow me to resume my normal training routine, it also allowed my metatarsal to recover and I am now pain free once again.” - John, Verified purchaser.

We have thousands of glowing reviews, read more here.

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Custom insoles for metatarsal comfort.

One the most important aspects of custom orthotics is to match the shape of the insole to your foot. SOLE’s heat/wear moldable orthopedic bases adapt to the exact contours of your feet without compromising the orthopedic shape, providing you custom comfort at an affordable cost. Getting custom-fit footwear has never been easier.