Question: What does skived mean?
Answer: It means to shave or trim the edges of something in layers. For felt metatarsal pads that are skived, it means that the edges are trimmed to be gradually built up to the 1/4" thickness in the middle. The edge is not an abrupt cut, which is felt more by your foot and can be uncomfortable. The skived edge gives you a more comfortable and less noticeable edge.
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Question:
My toes tend to go numb while I am on the elliptical machine for 30 minutes or more. Would these met pads help?
Answer:
Felt metatarsal pads could lessen the numbness in your toes during the repetitive motion you go through on an elliptical machine. Make sure you are wearing shoes with a roomy wide toe box to allow your toes some wiggle room and to make sure your met pad doesn't make your shoe tighter.
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Question:
I don't understand what you mean by "off loading the forefoot". Can you explain what that means?
Answer:
Great question! Off loading the forefoot simply means redistributing the weight and pressure on the forefoot back to the midfoot and heel. Our felt Metatarsal Pads are a great beginning pad to help you accomplish that. Redistribution of weight and pressure helps with pain in the forefoot and lots of other forefoot conditions.
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Question:
I think I have Metatarsalgia, will this product help me?
Answer:
Yes, Metatarsalgia is a generic term used to describe non-specific forefoot pain in the region of the metatarsal bones. This pad will off-load the forefoot. By taking the load off the ball of the foot, the metatarsal pad will help to redistribute load bearing.
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Question:
I am a runner, and I suffer from dropped metatarsals/metatarsalgia. I was wondering what pads would be the best for me to use. I try to run daily or at least every other day, but the pain has become too much lately. Please help!
Answer:
Thanks for your question about what to do for your dropped metatarsals. Any of our metatarsal pads would do the trick to alleviate some of the pressure on your metatarsal heads. We have an article about metatarsalgia which offers a lot of information on causes, treatments and products that you might want to take a look at if you haven’t already.
Our most popular metatarsal pads are these:
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Question:
I was wondering if you could recommend a certain metatarsal pad for me.. My husband is a chiropractor and told me I have a dropped metatarsal head...I have a callus between my big toe and second toe. I have an 8 month old baby and don't know if it is due to the relaxin being present or not. The problem is I am a female and wear different shoes all the time and around the house I am mainly barefoot...do you have a product that would help lift the metatarsal head as well as accommodate my lifestyle?
Answer:
Thanks for your question about what metatarsal pad would work best for your lifestyle. If you have a dropped metatarsal head that causes callus, you need to off-load the weight bearing away from your metatarsal heads/joints with a met pad. Rather than lift the metatarsal head with a pad placed directly on it, you want to displace the weight by using a met pad behind it. Take a look at the video for Felt Metatarsal Pads to see where the pads should hit. Any of our met pads would work for you, especially the most simple Felt Metatarsal Pads~ they are inexpensive and effective. If you want an insole that has the metatarsal pad built in and in the right position, take a look at the Pedag Comfort Insoles, as they take the guess-work out of placement. For going barefoot around the house, and also for use in sandals, you should take a look at 2 of our most popular met pads:
Reusable Metatarsal Pads-Gel - these are worn on the skin, and can be worn over and over again.
Arch Binder with Metatarsal Pad - this slips on and stays in place, even while barefoot.
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Question:
I have Morton's Neuroma and have shooting pains in my 2nd and 3rd toes when I walk with shoes on -- no pain when barefoot or with slippers. Had Cortisone shot and tried wide box shoes to no effect. Wondering which pads would be most beneficial: gel, felt, t-pad? I am leaning towards the gel reusable but will go with what you suggest. Thanks so much. I'll await your reply.
Answer:
Thanks for your question about what pad would work best for your Morton's Neuroma. With Morton's neuroma symptoms, the key is to use a pad to help spread your metatarsal bones apart, and keep them from pinching your nerve. Any of our met pads would work for you, especially the most simple Felt Metatarsal Pads~ they are inexpensive and effective. Take a look at the video for Felt Metatarsal Pads to see where the pads should hit.
If you want an insole that has the metatarsal pad built in and in the right position, take a look at the Pedag Comfort Insoles, as they take the guess-work out of placement.
For going barefoot around the house, and also for use in sandals, you should take a look at 2 of our most popular met pads:
Reusable Metatarsal Pads-Gel - these are worn on the skin, and can be worn over and over again.
Arch Binder with Metatarsal Pad - this slips on and stays in place, even while barefoot.
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Question:
I currently wear felt metatarsal pads (#729) underneath the Superfeet inserts in my sneakers. They work very well for me, besides the fact that I beat them down fairly quickly and need to change the pads every 3-5 weeks. I wouldn't have a problem with this if it didn't rip up the bottom of the Superfeet inserts when trying to remove the adhesive pad. I'm wondering which metatarsal pad might be more rigid that I could still put under my inserts but that I wouldn't have to change as often, or at all.
Answer:
I'm glad the felt metatarsal pads work well for you. And, 3-5 weeks is actually a pretty good length of time to wear them! However, if you want something that may prove longer-lasting, here are my suggestions:
Pedag Drop Metatarsal Pads: these are made of a firm foam with a leather cover, which makes them fairly firm.
Gel Metatarsal Pads: I think this one may last a bit longer than the felt ones, since the gel is a medium firm gel.
Metatarsal Pads-PPT: The PPT foam is a medium firm foam that may also last longer than the felt one.
Reusable Gel Metatarsal Pads: You might want to consider these, as they are designed to adhere to your feet rather than your shoe, and can be worn over and over again. We have a lot of converts toward using these!
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Question:
I have pain on the balls of my feet when I wear shoes or walk bearfoot . I purchased a dr. sholls thing however it took up to much space in my shoes . I am seeking somthing that will eleviate the pain on the balls of my feet and not take up room in my shoes. Which metatarsal pad do you recommend?
Answer:
I need a little more information about your pain before I can recommend any products to help with the pain in the balls of your feet. We have many ball-of-foot products; some are better for fat pad atrophy and others are better for various forefoot problems where off-loading the ball of foot is the goal.
If you need something directly on the balls of your feet to cushion and add padding, then take a look at these 3 products, all of which take up very little space in your shoes:
Gel Metatarsal Cushion
Ball of Foot Gel Pads
Foam Ball of Foot Pads
If you need a pad that will off-load weight from the balls of your feet, then many of the other ball-of-foot products will work. The ones that take up the least amount of room are:
Gel Metatarsal Pads
Metatarsal Pads - Felt
Metatarsal Pads - Foam
Metatarsal Pads -PPT
To help you when going barefoot at home, check out:
Arch Binder with Metatarsal Pad
Reusable Gel Ball-of-Foot Cushions
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Question:
Can you wear the same pad several days? Do you have to sleep with them on your foot?
Answer:
You can wear the same metatarsal pad for as long as the adhesive stays active, which could be several days or more. There is no medical benefit to wearing them while you sleep, but if you take it off at night, the adhesive probably won't stick too well in the morning.
Question:
I have numbness & pressure on my toe area when I run beyond 15 miles and longer. The conditions some what is relieved in the past with a metatarsal pad built into the orthotic. Which metatarsal pad would be best for running and playing squash?
Answer:
The felt metatarsal pad is our most popular metatarsal pad. It can adhere right to your insole or orthotic. The felt metatarsal pads tend to last a little longer than the foam metatarsal pads under extreme conditions like sports. Another pad you might want to check into would be our Metatarsal Bar PPT Cushion. The Metatarsal Bars seem to be popular athletes and they work well as a tool to modify existing orthotics or a pair of our Sport Carbon Fiber Orthotics.
Question:
I'm in my early 40's and have been diagnosed with bursitis (via ultrasound) at the bottom of my foot just back from where the toes join the foot. I started tae kwon do a year ago (and run about 3 miles a week)...the physicians think the bursitis is from the tae kwon do and I have been working with an orthotics person to get custom orthotics that eliminate the pain. After 2 months, the pain is definitely better but I still feel the squishy sensation where the bursitis is, but I don't feel it as much when wearing dance paws during tae kwon do. I am wondering if you have have any information for people with bursitis using your gel, felt or foam pads and what they're outcome might have been.
Answer:
All of our metatarsal pads are going to have a positive impact on folks with forefoot bursitis. But no, we don't have any comparative data on how each pad works in relationship to the diagnosis. The only way we can gauge that is to look at the volume of sales for each product. We find felt metatarsal pads are by far our most popular met pads. The felt and foam metatarsal offer great support when you put them in your shoes. A couple of other products that you might want to look at include the foam ball of foot pads, arch binder with met pad and PPT Metatarsal Bars.
Question:
Metatarsal Pad-Felt what size and thickness do they come in?
Answer:
We have one size Felt Metatarsal Pad: they are 2.5 inches from tip to base, 2 inches across, and 1/4 inch thick. Our Foam Metatarsal Pads have the same measurements.
Question:
Can these pads be placed in the shoe as my doctor wants or would that make them upside down and ineffective?
Answer:
They can be put in your shoe or on your foot with equal effectiveness. Many people adhere them to their insoles so that they last longer. They work just as well right side up or upside down.
Question:
I've seen felt, foam and gel metatarsal pads. Is there a difference to the impact to your foot or the wear of the pad between the different pad types?
Answer:
The felt ones are firmer and tend to last longer, as they are more dense by nature. The firm foam would probably be the next firmest, would have the same impact area (tear-drop shaped) as the felt ones, but would be a bit more comfortable than the felt. Finally, all the met pads made from gel would be more springy and have the most give. So often the choice of the right met pad just boils down to personal choice.
Question:
I have pain right below my toes before the ball of the foot. Which product do you think is better this one or the dancers pad? I also have a hammer toe because of this one toe curls down toe after the thumb. What would you recommend?
Answer:
This metatarsal pad is designed to address the pain you are describing and would probably work better than the Dancer's Pad because it distributes the weight away from all the metatarsal heads, rather than just the big toe joint. We have several hammertoe products. Some are best for a flexible hammertoe, and others are better when it is not flexible.
Question:
I recently went to a podiatrist and he put a foam pad on my foot. He pulled it from a roll. It is white and sticks to my foot after having two calluses removed. Can I purchase this product and cut it myself?
Answer:
It sounds like you are describing a metatarsal pad. No need to cut it yourself. Our met pads are all pre-cut.
Question:
Does the metatarsal pad fix the problem or does it just help with the pain?
Answer:
Actually both. By off-loading the sore spot on the forefoot the met pad decreases pain. Using a met pad allows the inflammed site to heal. The more consistently you use the met pad, the greater the chance that the problem will eventually heal.
Question:
How do you know how to position the pad correctly for capsulitis of the second toe?
Answer:
The position of the metatarsal pad for capsulitis of the 2nd toe would be the same positioning for pall-of-foot pain: place it just below the ball of your foot, toward your arch. The idea is to take the weight-bearing off of your ball of foot and put it on the pad. Also, be sure to watch the instructional video on this page. The video walks you through the steps for proper placement of the metatarsal pad.
Question:
My new job is now in retail and keeps me walking 6 to 8 hours! I purchased an orthotic in 2011 for high arches, but they are partial in length and do not supply comfort for the metatarsol bone and pain on right foot. I some times have numbness in the toes after 4 hours. I have been purchasing shoes to correct this situation. At a shoe store, they sold me another full length orthotic with the metatarsol pad. I am hoping this will correct the painful situation. Where do you place the pad? On the callus area which keeps developing on the metatarsol bone in the middle part of the ball of my foot?
Answer:
A simple Felt Metatarsal Pad can help alleviate the pain and numbness you feel in your toes and forefoot. Placement of the pad is very important, so be sure to watch the video on this page. The pad needs to go below the ball of your foot rather than right on top of it where the calluses develop. This will take the weight off of the ball of your foot and redistribute it to the pad.
Question:
If I wear a met pad on the foot that I have a problem with would I need to wear a pad on the other foot, even thought I don't have a problem on the other foot.
Answer:
No, you don't need to wear a Felt Metatarsal Pad on the foot that doesn't hurt. These pads aren't intrusive or so bulky that you would need to balance your other side out with a second pad.
Question:
I do kickboxing and running and I have noticed a pain in the ball of my foot for a while now. I went to a podiatrist she diagnosed it as capsulitis of the second toe and gave me some felt metatarsal pads to wear in my work shoes. I came here looking for more of those, but you have a quite a selection.... So I am looking for a pad that I can wear in my running shoes and also one I can wear with a bare foot during my kickboxing class - which product(s) do you recommend?
Answer:
Our Felt Metatarsal Pad is our most popular product for capsulitis, and would work well in your shoes and when you go barefoot. Another good option for support while going barefoot, is the Reusable Ball of Foot Gel Cushion, as it adheres to your skin and is reusable. The adhesive is reactivated when you wash it in warm soapy water.
Question:
I wear high shoes ocassionally; some times I get cramps in my feet atfer taking them off. I saw on Dr. Ozs. that metatarsal pads might help - if yes, what would be better gel or felt?
Answer:
The Felt Metatarsal Pads are firmer, which means they would provide more correction and last longer than gel metatarsal pads. However, if you are wearing women's high heels that have a narrow toe box, a smaller pad would make more sense. One thing to keep in mind about wearing heels though is that the elevation of the heel is going to create more load on the ball of the foot. This makes a metatarsal pad a bit less effective. As an alternative, consider the use of a foam or gel ball of foot pad. Both can be cut with scissors to fit into heels.
Question:
I have seen a u-shaped met pad, placed near the callous. How does the effectivness of these compare to the felt met pad?
Answer:
Two different ways to get at the same problem. The u-shaped pads like the forefoot callus protector or the Reusable Gel U-Shaped Pads are great for focal areas of callus. But for more diffuse pain like forefoot capsulitis, Morton's neuroma or forefoot bursitis, I'd still go with a metatarsal pad. Think U-shape if you can see a spot to off-load and met pad if the spot is larger or ill-defined.
Question:
You indicated that the felt pads could be worn overnight; do they hold up in a bath or shower? Also, I do yoga and am interested in something that I could wear barefoot but which would hold up to all the forces that yoga would put on the foot. Would the felt pads work or would something else be better?
Answer:
Our Felt Metatarsal Pads aren't really designed to withstand full immersion in a bath or shower, but we have had customers say that they will last through a couple of bathings, if you use a blow dryer on them afterwards. You certainly can wear these barefoot, as the adhesive would keep them in place during your movements. Another option would be the Reusable Ball of Foot Cushion since they also adhere to your skin but can be removed and then reapplied for quite a few applications.
Question:
I have Morton's Neuroma and have used both the felt and foam pads. I have had to trim them to get a comfortable fit. I would like to try the Reusable Pads because of the ability to wash and reuse. Does the one size fits all work for everyone? I am a women's size 7 in everyday shoes and 8 in athletic.
Answer:
The Reusable Ball of Foot Cushions are such a great option because they adhere to your skin and truly are reusable. They are 2 3/4" long by 2 1/2" wide, but can be trimmed with a scissors, if you need a smaller size. They also come in a 1/8" and 1/4" thickness.
Question:
What is the thickness of the metatarsal felt pad?
Answer:
Our Felt Metatarsal Pads are 1/4" thick.
Question:
I have been suffering from severe pain in the metatarsal area of my foot. It moves from my second toe to the top of my foot and up to my ankle and even up to my knee. Medically the only option offered was steroid injections or surgery. This has been going on ten weeks. I have been advised to stop walking and exercise . I have just got custom made orthotics but they are not full size and I feel I would have less pain if there was some padding to support the area under the toes. would your pads do this or would they hinder the effects of the orthotics?
Answer:
The two most common conditions of the plantar forefoot are capsulitis and Morton’s neuroma. Both may be treated with a metatarsal pad and it’s striking how many people find relief. Metatarsal pads are often used in conjunction with a prescription orthotic. And if by chance the metatarsal pads do not work, they can be easily removed from the orthotic.
The most important aspect of using a metatarsal pad is proper placement. Be sure to watch our video for a little bit of instruction on proper placement of the pads.
Question:
For 4 months I have (I suspect)metatargalia of 2nd toe. Which pads to buy is becoming confusing. Some images sellers show the gel pads (with ring for the 2nd toe)placed right under where it hurts. Other sites advised that it should be placed on the weight bearing part of the foot ie about 2 inches away from the toe. So which is correct?
Answer:
Which is correct? Sometimes that's a tough call and is often goin to be a personal preference. But first, you need a good diagnosis. Please read our articles on metatarsalgia and capsulitis to better understand your symptoms and what products might help you. Metatarsalgia and capsulitis can be treated with a simple metatarsal pad, which decreases the load on the forefoot. This means that the best placement of the pad is not directly on the ball of foot, but next to, or behind it. This redistributes the weight onto the pad, rather than your metatarsal joints. Please take a look at the video on this page which will show you proper placement of the met pads.
Question:
I have pins and needles sensation when i first step out of bed in the morning between the ball of my foot and where the toe meets the ball of foot. I have seen 5 different podiatrists and had 2 ultrasounds which returned 2 different results. I have used many metatarsal pads but as yet they havent taken the sensation away, how long should you wear met pads before you feel the sensation go away? I am also about to use yoga toes in conjuction with met pads.
Answer:
Interesting question. Have you been checked for tarsal tunnel syndrome? Often, with symptoms like you describe, the problem is in the medial ankle and not the forefoot. See if you can duplicate the test described in the article called a Tinel’s sign. If you percuss the medial ankle as described and you elicit tingles, you’re dealing with tarsal tunnel and not a local problem like Morton’s neuroma. If indeed it’s tarsal tunnel, met pads aren’t going to change the symptoms one bit.
Question:
How long do these pads last?
Answer:
The adhesive on the pads with last indefinitely if applied inside a shoe or on the underside of an insert. If applied directly to the foot, the pads may last only days.
The metatarsal pads are durable felt that is resistand to compression. Individual wear will depend upon you daily use. For example, use in running shoes may not last as long as use in a pair of street shoes.
Question:
Are felt metatarsal pads washable?
Answer:
Felt by nature is wool that has been 'felted' by aggitation in water. The aggitation causes the fibers to lock and become tighter. Although felt is washed wool, we do no recommend washing metatarsal pads.
Question:
I've been looking at both the Felt Metatarsal Pads and the Mini Neuroma Pads. Which one is better?
Answer:
The Metatarsal Pad Felt and the Neuroma Pad Mini Felt are made of compressed felt. Both pads are trimmed (skived) to eliminate rough edges and feel better under the foot. The only difference is size, and that's simply a personal preference. Most customers seem to choose the Metatarsal Pad - Felt.
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