Top Tips to Treat Pain in the Ball of the Foot

The sole of your shoe wears the most rapidly at thebetter it feels and how the toes line up straighter.
ball of your foot, and your shoe may get a hole in itThe metatarsal bar will also help your arch. It is an
at that point. This is the point of greatest stressinexpensive device, and any good shoemaker knows
when we walk. We make it even worse by wearinghow to fit one. Fix several pairs of shoes. An insert in
footwear designed for fashion rather than function.the shoe can do the same thing. Cut the insert so
And, unfortunately, this area is where the metatarsalthat the sore place is not supported by the insert.
bones join the toe bones. A great proportion of theThese inserts have the advantage that they can be
arthritis that affects the foot occurs at these joints.transferred from shoe to shoe.
The consequences arthritis in the forefoot are majorGood shoes are critical to the problems of foot pain.
and adverse. With every step we place weight onDon't wear shoes with pointed toes. Women should
this area, and it is difficult indeed to walk withoutavoid high heels. They throw additional weight on the
using the forefoot. Even a small problem can makeforefoot. Look for a wide toe box in a shoe. You can
walking difficult, and then the other muscles, tendons,a lot in the store by walking around before buying;
ligaments, and bones begin to lose strength. Seriousdon't go home with a purchase that isn't comfortable
attention is required because your careful work atno matter what the salesperson says. Try the
home can pay major dividends. Even people withathletic shoe department for casual shoes. These
major arthritis will find that attention to local factorsshoes are excellent for arthritis and should be more
can make all the difference.widely used, they are comfortable and less
The basic principle is quite simple. The idea is to moveexpensive. Look for shoes with a good heel wedge
the weight-bearing burden away from the painful partsupport, a nylon upper that will spread in the toe
so that the inflammation can subside and the partbox, and laces that run through guides rather than
can heal. The metatarsal bar, a strip of sole leathereyelets so that they adjust smoothly. Shoes with air
that the shoemaker can sew or glue onto thecushions seem particularly satisfactory for many
outside of your shoe about an inch behind thepeople.
contact point where you are wearing out the sole, isIf your problem with pain in the forefoot occurs at
an important device to shift your weight. When younight, you will need something to raise the covers off
check your area of greatest pain against the area ofthe foot. A pillow under the covers at the bottom of
greatest wear in the shoe, you will find that they arethe bed is the easiest solution, a side-lying L-shaped
at the same place. Press on your foot about an inchpiece of wood may be better for tall people.
behind the sore place and you will note how much