Question:
I think I have Metatarsalgia. Will this product be able to help me?
Answer:
Yes! Metatatarsalgia is a generic term used to describe non-specific forfoot pain in the region of the metatarsal bones. This pad will off-load the forefoot. By taking load off the ball of the foot, metatarsal pads help to redistribute load bearing.
Question:
Can I place these directly in my shoe rather than on my foot?
Answer:
Yes you can. Just be sure to get the placement in your shoe correctly before peeling off the paper. You can also peel them out of your shoe so you can wash them periodically.
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Question:
I received the 1/8" pads. I like them, but think I need the 1/4" ones. How do I know which thickness to get?
Answer:
Unless your Doctor give you a recommendation it's hard to tell which thickness you will need. We generally recommend starting with the thinner pad and give your foot some time to adjust to having something underneath it. If you feel that you need more, then you could try the thicker pad and see if that is a better fit for you.
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Question:
I need help with my metatarsalgia ~ I suffer from dropped metatarsal heads, which hurt quite a bit when I run. What do you suggest?
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 would like to order your reuseable metatarsal arch gel pads #929. I currently use Aertrex Lynco inserts in my sneakers and walking shoes. I also wear Birkenstock sanals exclusively during the summer. I would like to use your product while wearing Keen sandals while during water activities. What thickness should I be ordering?
Answer:
If you wish to wear these in your birks, sneakers and walking shoes, the thickness depends on what you are trying to fix. Do you have a working diagnosis? If you have metatarsalgia, capsulitis or mortons’ neuroma, and need the pad to off-load weight from the ball of your foot, then the ¼” thickness is probably what you need. However, if you have fat pad atrophy, or simply need to cushion the ball of your foot, then the 1/8” would be best.
Also, for water ativities, you might do better with something like:
Arch Binder with Metatarsal Pad – this is a slip on that can be washed and dried after use in water activities.
Metatarsal Pads-PPT – this one adheres to your shoe. If you let it dry after water activities, it should be reusable for a while.
Metatarsal Pads- Felt – this one adheres to your shoe also, and would need to be dried between activities also.
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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!
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 I wear these with heels?
Answer:
Absolutely. These gel pads are relatively thin, therefore you could wear them in any shoe. And with heels, much of your weight is transferred to the forefoot. This pad would be the ideal choice.
Question:
I have at least two conditions that make my feet hard to fit. The first one is this. I wear a size 7, but it seems like I'm an 8 or so from my heel to the ball of my foot, and then I have short toes. So most shoes make my foot feel like it is suspended between the ball and the heel, with nothing under the arch area (all the way across the foot, not just on the inside). I like the way a size 6 feels under my arch/metatarsal area, but my heel hangs over the end, and wearing an 8 or higher feels too long in the toe. My body's weight distribution when I walk feels more stable in the smaller size and less stable in the large size. After trying many different arch supports and orthodics, I thought I would try these metatarsal pads since that is the area that feels like it needs something under it. The second condition is Morton's Toe/Foot (not related to Morton's Neuroma), meaning that my second metatarsal is longer than my first, so I push off from the second metatarsal head (center of my foot like an ice skate), rather than pushing off my first metatarsal head and great toe. It seems to help to put a quarter size round pad under the first metatarsal head. Would you recommend metatarsal pads (which ones?) and the small pad under the first metatarsal head, or something else?
Answer:
Your understanding of how shoes are sized is right on track. The way that most shoes are sized is from heel to tips of the toes. But the way the foot functions would be better measured by heel to ball of the foot. One tell-tale sign of this is when you see someone who’s shoe curls up at the toes. In this case, the functional measurement of heel to ball-of-foot is being used, making the shoe just too long. One suggestion to help with fitting of the shoe would be to purchase a shoe based on heel to tip of toes measurement but pad the shoe with a tongue pad. The tongue pad will help to take up some of the space in the shoe. Your second question, regarding Morton’s toe, yes, I would focus on the use of a metatarsal pad to realign weight bearing on the forefoot. Which met pad to use is really one of personal preference. But, I can tell you that our felt metatarsal pads are by far (many times over) our best selling met pad.
Question:
I have bilateral fat pad atrophy d/t osteoarthritis, hereditary factors, previous excess 30#, & wear & tear; I also had a fusion of the 2nd & 3rd metatarsals to the cuneiform joint 2 years ago, which seemed to exacerbate the problem, or at least the underlying fascia fractures on that foot did from being non-weight bearing for 8 weeks. I am highly sensitive to synthetics, & am wondering if you think this may be work trying out?
Answer:
For fat pad atrophy, I would normally recommend the 1/8” version of this product, but if you are highly sensitive to synthetics, I don’t think it is advisable. This pad is designed to adhere to your skin, so if you have sensitive skin, I would steer away from it. We do have other products that you can use for fat pad atrophy that adhere to your shoe, such as the Foam Ball of Foot Pads and Ball of Foot Gel Pads.
Question:
My foot pain goes back 8 months. I what been running on treadmill and gravel roads for some time and never had a problem until I experienced terrible ball of foot pain that came on gradually. I have self treated and not exercised other than running since but finally came to a point of exhaustion w it. I tried a walking boot for 6 weeks with mixed results. The pain has been located at the plantar surface Of the second met head. Initially it was so sensitive that even light touch would send me flying! The swelling and acute. Pain have passed but now for the past 4 months I'm left w ongoing sensitivity esp after standing for longer lengths of time or walking barefoot on hard surfaces. I just recently went to a DPM and was dx with capsulitis. An X-ray was made and saw that the second met had a tilt toward the big toe (which I've noticed a widening gap bt 2&3 toes). I got s cortisone inj and was told to check back in 6 weeks while cont ice and NSAIDs and no running. Orthotics were mentioned as something we'd do at the next visit. I've worn diff orthotics from my chiropractor that I love for many years but I'm excited at what you may have to offer. So...what would you recommend for me?
Answer:
It’s very helpful to have a diagnosis form your doctor. That helps us to hone in on what products would be best for your condition. Be sure to check out our knowledge base article on capsulitis for more information. Seven out of ten cases of capsulitis can be successfully treated with metatarsal pads to off-load the metatarsal head.
The question is what type of metatarsal pad is best for you? That depends upon your work, recreational activities, shoe types, etc. Our most popular metatarsal pad is the felt met pad. You may want to start with an adhesive backed felt met pad applied directly to the foot. Once you’ve recognized success, you can move to in-shoe types of met pads.
Question:
How do i decide what size of ball of the food gel cushion? I want the ones that stick to the foot. That is what has been suggested to me. Had a small stress fracture in 2nd met area and also have a small bunion...not suggesting surgery right now (but think contributing factor to fracture. I have a skinny skinny ankle, low arch and a medium upper foot area and so hard to find a great fitting shoe. The suggestion was to use one of these and it has worked but i misplaced one of them. What size of thickness do you suggest? How do you figure it out? There are 2 sizes on your web site and the old box I have doesnt have a size of thickness.
Answer:
The Reusable Gel Ball-of-Foot Cushions are made to adhere to your foot, not your shoe. Considering all of the issues you are trying to address, from a stress fracture, to filling your loose-fitting shoes, it seems to me that the thicker 1/4" pads would be more effective than the thinner 1/8" ones. Do you still have one of the old ones? If so, you could measure it.
Question:
I was about to reorder a pair of the ball of foot gels which I originally purchased on the recommendation of my doctor for morton's neuromas which i have on both feet..one was operated on and then treated with alcohol injections and the other has been treated only with steroids so far.The pads are helpful although the neuroma still hurts considerably after an hour or so of activity...I'm a ballroom dancer with a size 5 1/2 foot. I just noticed your dancers gel pads and wonder whether these would be even better. Since my foot is small I only question whether they would be too large to comfortably fit my foot or too bulky under ballroom shoes.
Answer:
The Reusable Gel Ball-of-Foot Cushions are definitely the better choice rather than the Dancer's Pads, for Morton's Neuroma. Dancer's Pads are designed to treat pain and stiffness in the big toe joint area, not the mid-foot metatarsal area, where Morton's Neuroma symptoms occur. You might want to check out the many products we have for morton's neuroma.
If you are looking for smaller pads, take a look at the Gel Metatarsal Pads, Mini Felt Neuroma Pads, and the Pedag Drop Metatarsal Pads.
Question:
How do I determine which thickness to order?
Answer:
It is hard to say which thickness you should get, but it depends on how much correction you think you need, whether you've tried other pads before, and what thickness they were. Most metatarsal pads come in 1/4" as a standard thickness, so you might want to try those first.
Question:
Can these be trimmed to fit a smaller foot?
Answer:
These are easily trimmed with scissors into any shape you need.
Question:
Where to I place the Ball-of-Foot Pad?
Answer:
It seems to make sense to place the pad right on top of your ball of foot, but it actually needs to go further back, with the edge of the pad hitting right before the ball of foot starts. This off-loads pressure away from the ball of foot and redistributes the pressure and load-bearing to the pad itself. Please watch the video on thsi page to learn more about how to position your pad.
More questions? You can find additional answers in our customer support portal or simply click chat at the top of the page.
