Foot Bone or Joint Injury
Metatarsalgia: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
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Metatarsalgia is a painful condition affecting the metatarsal joints of the forefoot, characterised by pain and inflammation. It can be felt as pain, burning, numbness, or pins and needles around the ball of the foot. It is more common in women than men, and very common in runners.
The pain is made worse with prolonged standing, walking on hard surfaces and impact activities. such as running. Additionally, wearing shoes that are tight around the forefoot and high heels can aggravate these symptoms. Some foot anatomies are at higher risk, such as high arches, hammer toes, bunions, dropped metatarsal heads, and adult-acquired flat feet. As are some health conditions such as arthritis, obesity, and gout.
James McCormack is a Physical Therapist specialising in knee, foot & ankle injuries. www.james-mccormack.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Earnings from this are used to create free-to-read content without affecting the price of the shoes we recommend.
Best Running Shoes for Metatarsalgia
The best shoes for metatarsalgia will have a wide toe box, low heel-to-toe drop, and good cushioning. For running shoes, good cushioning is even more important as it is a high-impact activity.
We, therefore, recommend the following 3 shoes as the best running shoes for metatarsalgia: Hoka Bondi 8, Asics Gel-Nimbus 25, and New Balance Fresh Foam X More v4.
Please read our review of each below to see the benefits and details of each shoe, to help you make the decision of what will work best for you.
Best Running Shoes for Metatarsalgia: Hoka
We recommend the Hoka Bondi 8 as one of the best running shoes for metatarsalgia, if you land on your forefoot.
This is a neutral shoe with plush cushioning and a very low heel-to-toe drop of only 4mm.
As it is available in 3 width sizes, you will find a perfect fit with plenty of space in the toe box to avoid compression.
Additionally, The Royal College of Podiatry has recognised that it is a shoes that is beneficial to foot health.
Buy Men's on Amazon Buy Women's on AmazonBest Running Shoes for Metatarsalgia: Asics
We recommend the Asics Gel-Nimbus 25 as one of the best running shoes for metatarsalgia, especially if you have a heel strike.
Asics Gel-Nimbus 25 is a maximal cushioned shoe with neutral support. It is available in 3 width sizes.
It has an 8mm heel-to-toe drop, which isn’t as low as some shoes and would suit a runner with a heel strike best.
The Asics Gel-Nimbus 25 was also the “Comfort Test” winner of The Biomechanics Lab, South Australia.
Buy Men's on Amazon Buy Women's on Amazon
Best Running Shoes for Metatarsalgia: New Balance
We recommend the New Balance Fresh Foam X More v4, as one of the best running shoes for metatarsalgia.
This shoe has a thick, cushioned sole with a low heel-to-toe drop of 4mm.
This is the lightest of the 3 shoes reviewed, at only 237 grams. So is a great option for those seeking marginal gains for speed.
It has also received the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association.
Buy Men's on Amazon Buy Women's on AmazonPhysiotherapy with James McCormack
This is not medical advice. We recommend consulting with a medical professional such as James McCormack. He offers Online Physiotherapy Appointments weekly.