Popular Q&A: Ball of Foot

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

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

How do metatarsal pads help restore proper forefoot fat pad positioning?

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... Read more

How Do Metatarsal Pads Work?

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

How do metatarsal pads work?

Metatarsal pads may be small and unobtrusive, but they are mighty when it comes to aiding the foot and addressing a variety of foot ills. The forefoot fat pad—a natural structure in all feet—is intended to sit underneath the ball of the foot and cushion and cradle the metatarsal heads at the point where they contact the ground. Wearing conventional... Read more