Relieving High Heel Pain with Metatarsal Pads

If some of the most important men in your life are called Steve, Manolo and Jimmy C and their names adorn a row of boxes in your closet then you, like thousands of other women, love high heels. And with good reason. High heels flatter any leg and they just make women feel sexier the instant they slip them on. Trouble is though they are hardly effortless to wear.

Although Carrie Bradshaw from Sex in the City may have been able to do anything in her Manolos and never seem to suffer any discomfort in real life that is rarely the case. But few women want to give up the high heel habit and settle for a pair of sensible flats. So what is a fashionista to do?

One thing that can help ease the pain of life in high heels on a daily basis is investing in a good pair of metatarsal pads. The metatarsal bones equally share the weight of a person during walking and daily activities. When this delicate balance between the bones is disrupted, in this case by high heels, the result is often nasty ball of the foot pain.

Metatarsal pads come in several different forms. One of the most popular styles these days are the new generation of silicone metatarsal pads. These mold to the shape of the wearer’s foot quite quickly and provide all day relief of ball of the foot pain, not just for high heel addicts but for those who have suffered with such pain all their lives. 

Another form of metatarsal pads that is very popular with professional and amateur dancers are called toe cushions. These wrap around the foot and provide support for the entire front of the foot, including the metatarsal bones. These toe cushions are designed to be almost invisible when worn with heels of all kinds.

Metatarsal pads are also built in to certain styles of full foot insoles and if foot pain affects the whole foot they may be the perfect answer. Just make sure the pair you purchase fits inside the shoe properly and is neither too big nor too small as by wearing an ill-fitting full foot insole you could simply end up adding to your daily discomfort instead of relieving it.

Metatarsal pads with a “lift” provide excellent relief for some people but they are not recommended for use by people with diabetes or poor circulation because they can disrupt the regular blood flow to the feet if worn for long periods of time.

The other key to reliving ball of the foot pain for high heel fans is making sure that the shoes fit right in the first place. If you are squeezing your feet into a pair of Jimmy Choos that are a size too small just because you got them at a killer price, then no orthopedic aid is going to relieve all the pain you feel when wearing them!