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How Do Metatarsal Pads Work?

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

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The above content is for educational or informational purposes only and is not intended to replace or augment professional medical instruction, diagnosis, or treatment. Read full disclaimer here.

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How Do Metatarsal Pads Help Restore Proper Forefoot Fat Pad Positioning?

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

Two of the main metatarsal pad functions—restoring proper forefoot fat pad positioning and spreading out the transverse foot arch—are quite independent. In the case of the former, it's really the toe spring built into conventional footwear—and the associated toe flexor/extensor muscle imbalance it creates—that's responsible for shifting the fat pad to a position further out on the foot, closer to the ends of the toes. Metatarsal pads, which should be... Read more

Why Do People Wear Toe Spacers?

Posted By Robyn Hughes, ND

A normal and natural human foot is widest at the ends of the toes, not at the ball of the foot. According to numerous decades-old studies, people who have gone barefoot or who have worn only minimalist footwear most of their lives—which is common in many parts of the world, including Africa, Asia, and South and Central America—have feet that are widest at the ends of the toes, and their... Read more
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