| The sole of your shoe wears the most rapidly | | | | foot about an inch behind the sore place and |
| at the ball of your foot, and your shoe may | | | | you will note how much better it feels and |
| get a hole in it at that point. This is the | | | | how the toes line up straighter. The |
| point of greatest stress when we walk. We | | | | metatarsal bar will also help your arch. It |
| make it even worse by wearing footwear | | | | is an inexpensive device, and any good |
| designed for fashion rather than function. | | | | shoemaker knows how to fit one. Fix several |
| And, unfortunately, this area is where the | | | | pairs of shoes. An insert in the shoe can do |
| metatarsal bones join the toe bones. A great | | | | the same thing. Cut the insert so that the |
| proportion of the arthritis that affects the | | | | sore place is not supported by the insert. |
| foot occurs at these joints. | | | | These inserts have the advantage that they |
| | | | can be transferred from shoe to shoe. |
| The consequences arthritis in the forefoot | | | | |
| are major and adverse. With every step we | | | | Good shoes are critical to the problems of |
| place weight on this area, and it is | | | | foot pain. Don't wear shoes with pointed |
| difficult indeed to walk without using the | | | | toes. Women should avoid high heels. They |
| forefoot. Even a small problem can make | | | | throw additional weight on the forefoot. Look |
| walking difficult, and then the other | | | | for a wide toe box in a shoe. You can a lot |
| muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones begin | | | | in the store by walking around before buying; |
| to lose strength. Serious attention is | | | | don't go home with a purchase that isn't |
| required because your careful work at home | | | | comfortable no matter what the salesperson |
| can pay major dividends. Even people with | | | | says. Try the athletic shoe department for |
| major arthritis will find that attention to | | | | casual shoes. These shoes are excellent for |
| local factors can make all the difference. | | | | arthritis and should be more widely used, |
| | | | they are comfortable and less expensive. |
| The basic principle is quite simple. The idea | | | | Look for shoes with a good heel wedge |
| is to move the weight-bearing burden away | | | | support, a nylon upper that will spread in |
| from the painful part so that the | | | | the toe box, and laces that run through |
| inflammation can subside and the part can | | | | guides rather than eyelets so that they |
| heal. The metatarsal bar, a strip of sole | | | | adjust smoothly. Shoes with air cushions seem |
| leather that the shoemaker can sew or glue | | | | particularly satisfactory for many people. |
| onto the outside of your shoe about an inch | | | | |
| behind the contact point where you are | | | | If your problem with pain in the forefoot |
| wearing out the sole, is an important device | | | | occurs at night, you will need something to |
| to shift your weight. When you check your | | | | raise the covers off the foot. A pillow under |
| area of greatest pain against the area of | | | | the covers at the bottom of the bed is the |
| greatest wear in the shoe, you will find that | | | | easiest solution, a side-lying L-shaped piece |
| they are at the same place. Press on your | | | | of wood may be better for tall people. |