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