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6 Best Shoes for Metatarsalgia -Relieve Ball-of-Foot Pain in Style
Do you suffer from metatarsalgia? The medical term for pain in the ball of your foot, metatarsalgia often leads to a burning sensation at the base of your toes (it feels like having a stone in your shoe).
Along with causing significant pain, metatarsalgia can hinder your ability to handle day-to-day activities. While rest, different types of exercise, and OTC pain medicine can be good recommendations for relieving metatarsalgia pain, finding the right shoes will make a big difference.
With our Curves & Pods® premium removable footbed, Taos shoes are a great option for metatarsalgia relief. In this post, we are going to look at some of the best metatarsalgia shoes we have to offer.
Sneakers
Metatarsalgia doesn’t mean you have to stop being active. You just need to find the right sneakers.
Star
When it comes to the best walking shoes for metatarsalgia, a sneaker like Star has a classic, easy-to-wear look with unrivaled comfort and support. These have our tried-and-true Curves & Pods® polyurethane removable footbed with Soft Support for an all-around comfortable shoe for metatarsalgia pain.
Union
If high-tops are more your style, the Union can offer the support and comfort you need for metatarsalgia pain. These shoes look great and they have premium arch and metatarsal support. With the canvas footbed lining and flexible outsole, these sneakers will keep you comfortable through a long day on your feet.
Sandals
Sandals can be some of the best shoes for metatarsalgia. You just need to be aware of support at the footbed.
Trulie
In terms of your options for metatarsalgia shoes, for a summer sandal try Trulie, which has multiple fastenings for an adjustable fit, and premium padding at the front. The lightweight, contoured cork footbed keeps your feet supported and pain-free all day.
Escape
As an alternative, you could consider Escape. The hook and loop strap gives it the feel of a custom fit and the Stand Up Footbed makes it a nice walking sandal. These sandals can keep your feet feeling good as you run errands during the day, and they can also work as footwear for a casual evening out.
Boots
If you need something a little tougher, a pair of boots could be the best shoes for metatarsalgia. Just make sure you have enough room in the toebox and a supportive footbed.
Capstone
The tough and stylish Capstone can be the perfect boot for wearing to work or for a long day of walking. You can lace them up for a snug fit, and the interior zipper offers easy access. With a dual-density polyurethane footbed, you can rest assured that these boots will not aggravate your metatarsalgia.
Future Mid
For comfort, warmth, and support, the Future Mid is hard to beat. It has a premium polyurethane footbed for arch and metatarsal support. This boot is also very stylish with the suede upper and faux fur at the collar. When you put it all together, you have the ideal winter boot for metatarsalgia.
These are just some of the best shoes for metatarsalgia. If you check our entire collection, you can find comfort and support for almost any style or occasion. The two main recommendations we would make for metatarsalgia sufferers are to avoid shoes with heels higher than 2” and look for room around the toe area of the shoe.
From finding the best metatarsalgia shoes to over-the-counter remedies, here’s how you can relieve the pain without surgery.
1. Give Your Feet a Rest
First thing’s first: Metatarsalgia is often caused by high impact exercise such as running, which puts pressure on the forefoot. So take a break: switch to low-impact exercise and/or put your feet up when you first experience symptoms.
2. Try Strengthening Exercises
Want to prevent metatarsalgia in the future? Exercises can help. Strengthen your arches by picking up a marble with your toes, or using your toes to scrunch up a towel.
3. Swap Out High Heels for Shoes That Ease Metatarsalgia Pain
We don’t need to tell you what you already feel whenever you wear tall heels: high heels are not the best shoes for ball-of-foot pain. High heels push your weight onto your forefoot — increasing your risk of metatarsalgia.
As an alternative to those stilettos, try a pair of comfortable yet stylish block-heeled booties, like Dillie. Or, strut in confidence with a lightweight platform, like Carousel 3. The Carousel wedge sandals have a premium leather construction and metallic hardware for a super chic look. Plus, they’re made with our flexible, padded contour cork-latex footbed that’s covered in suede for ultimate comfort and support. Finding the best shoes for metatarsalgia may mean sacrificing your stilettos, but with options like these, you can still look stylish and avoid discomfort.
Dillie
Carousel 3
4. Try an Ice Pack
Ice is a great way to soothe inflammation. Wrap an ice pack in a towel, and massage your foot for a couple of minutes several times a day.
5. Over-the-Counter Pain Relief
It’s not a long-term solution, but a pain reliever like ibuprofen or aspirin can help reduce inflammation and offer some temporary respite.
6. Give gel pads a go
While you’re at the pharmacy, why not pick up a metatarsal pad to help turn your pair of regular sneakers into the best walking shoes for metatarsalgia? This acts as a shock absorber, reducing the pressure on the ball of the foot.
At Taos, we have an even better alternative to gel pads. Our Curves & Pods® premium removable footbed is in every pair of our Active collection and provides the ultimate support and comfort for your painful feet. With these footbeds, you can be sure you’re treating yourself to some of the best shoes for metatarsalgia without ever sacrificing your style.
Sneaker Footbeds
7. Maintain a Healthy Weight
As obesity is one of the risk factors for metatarsalgia, sticking to
a healthy weight can help.
8. Treat Bunions and Calluses
Other foot conditions are often to blame for metatarsalgia. Suffering from calluses? Soak your feet to soften them, and then remove dead skin with a pumice stone (but consult your doctor first if you have diabetes). As for bunions, we have a heap of remedies here.