Your feet carry you all day and bear the pressure of your body weight. From tie to time, the feet can get sore and painful. This discomfort may deter you from engaging in your regular activities. One great relief that has been proven to provide a solution to a painful forefoot is metatarsal cushions. 

Metatarsal cushions are designed to ease pain by providing support to the metatarsal bones. Here’s what you should know about these pads.

• Only a podiatrist or a health care professional can recommend you to use cushions
• Forefoot issues addressed with met cushions are caused by bursitis of the feet, rheumatoid arthritis, plantar warts, and neuroses.
• Metatarsal cushions made from velcro are better than those with adhesive material

Medical causes of forefoot pain

Persistent pain in the balls of the feet could mean you’re suffering from any of the ailments that affect the metatarsal bones. There are five metatarsal bones in each foot. When these bones are properly supported, they relieve pain and prevent further agony. The following are other causes of forefoot pain:

1. Bursitis of the feet: This condition happens when fluid-filled sacs that affect the joint’s cushioning get inflammation affects the feet. It manifests as painful as swollen joints with restricted movement.It is most painful in the morning.
2. Metatarsal: is the general term for all forefoot ailments. It captures the basic symptoms of forefoot pain.
3. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): This is an inflammatory that attacks the joints in the body. RA tends to produce pain and discomfort at the forefoot.
4. Plantar warts: is an ailment of the viral forefoot. These harmless warts can linger for a while and clear by themselves in a couple of years. The warts are uncomfortable, especially when they appear within the weight-bearing spot.
5. Neuromas: It can be caused by wearing tight shoes that press the ball of the feet. The nerves that run through the ball of the foot produces a burning sensation. The nerve between the 3rd and 4th toe thickens and causes pain.

How metatarsal cushion relieves pain

The metatarsal cushion works by reducing the exerted pressure on the ball of the foot. The pad supports the metatarsal bone slightly behind the ball of the foot.

Modification and adjustments characterize the fitting of metatarsal cushions. However, a properly positioned edit helps to ease some pressure off the balls of the feet.

The pads are available in various sizes and shapes. Additionally, it is universally accepted that the pad should not be placed under the metatarsal head.

 Instead, the second, third, and fourth heads should give support to the width of the pad, avoiding the first and fifth head. This means that pressure is more evenly distributed, thus minimizing pressure on the metatarsal head.

There are metatarsal pads with gel cushioning, while others are made from materials such as polyester felt, latex or leather, and open-cell polyurethane foam. If you opt for a metatarsal cushion that will be in direct contact with the foot, find pieces with an antimicrobial treatment to prevent bacterial growth.