 |  | | | | What is Metatarsalgia?
Belgium HotelsMetatarsalgia, also known as "dropped metatarsal heads" is a common foot disorder that affects the joints of the ball of the foot (metatarsal joints). This condition is very common and the cause is abnormal weight distribution due to over pronation. | | | Symptoms and Causes
With this condition, one or more of the metatarsal joints becomes painful or inflamed, usually due to the presence of excessive pressure, over a long period of time. Patients complain of pain and a sensation that they are walking on a stone, and they generally have a callus under the area of the dropped metatarsal. In severe cases which do not respond to conservative therapy surgery may be indicated. (High heeled/Pointy Toed shoes are the prime culprits). Calluses or pressure sensitivity may develop under the joints. Metatarsalgia can also be caused by disease (arthritis), trauma (sports, car accidents, repeated stress), hard surfaces (cement or tile floors) and specific footwear (rigid soled work boots). The problem will often become progressively worse with the wearing of inappropriate footwear. | | | Effective Solutions For Painful Feet
For Mild Cases of Metatarsalgia a simple change of footwear to a shape that better suits the foot type may be all that is required. Unfortunately, very few people seek treatment while the problem is still in the mild stage. For Moderate to Severe cases a full-length custom-molded foot orthoses is often prescribed using a computerized system for fabricating prescription foot orthoticscheap hotels in Maastricht. This type of orthoses is designed to provide proper foot alignment, as well as cushioning to the painful damaged area, which can help to alleviate stress to the metatarsal joints and relieve pain. Indentations can also be made in the cushioned orthotic material under the more sensitive metatarsal joints, to accommodate a specific painful area. For Severe cases, where the metatarsal joints are badly damaged, immobile or hyper-sensitive (as in some types of diseases), the foot needs help from a custom orthoses using the computerized system for fabricating prescription foot orthotics. Orthoses and footwear combinations can be designed so that the painful joints no longer have to bend as much, or bear as much stress, which provides tremendous relief to the front of the foot. The same pain reducing features can be incorporated into prescription fabricated Birkenstock Sandals, which can be very helpful in maintaining walking and standing comfort around the home and in the warm summer months. If walking and standing comfort can be greatly increased, more activity is possible, which in turn encourages a healthier lifestyle. Your Podiatrist can recommend the most effective combination of orthoses and footgear to meet your needs. | | |  | | | | Podiatric Treatment For Metatarsalgia
Orthotic Treatment: The patient is filled with a full-length semi-rigid orthoses. The orthoses must be fabricated as follows: - A build-up is required under the first metatarsal ray in order for it to assume greater weight bearing
- An excavation is required under the second metatarsal head (mpj) to relieve pressure.
- A metatarsal pad is placed directly behind the 2nd, 3rd and 4th metatarsal heads in order to properly distribute the patient's weight during toe off.
Footwear Requirements: It is now possible for the orthoses to be worn in most any shoe thanks to with the advent of a computerized system for fabricating prescription foot orthotics. For chronic or extreme cases it is often necessary to excavate within the orthoses as well. Sandals can also be modified for patients with Metatarsalgia, in order to provide them with an orthopedic "house slipper". Prescription fabricated Birkenstock Sandals can be fabricated in a way similar to orthoses with accommodations built in to the sandal. Excavations can also be placed under painful joints to help alleviate pressure and pain. For the podiatrist, each case of Metatarsalgia is a new set of challenges. Podiatrist management is part of the multi-disciplinary approach, which when appropriately integrated into the treatment regimen, gives the patient the best chance for longterm success. | | | |
