Here we take on a reader question about shoes for ball of Foot pain:

Hi Kirsten:

Four doctors have acknowledged that I have lost the fat pad from the balls of my feet.  The bones in my forefoot have nothing but skin between them and the floor. To compound matters, I have other foot problems that have misaligned these bones. The result is that I need lots of padding in the forefoot of my shoes.  Right now, the only brand I know of that I can walk all day in is Fitflops.  I have many pair and enjoy wearing them, but the company has apparently discovered that they sell more shoes if they have a sleeker thinner sole.  They are, therefore, no longer offering anything other than boots, clogs, and thong sandals with the original sole I can walk in. The flats I have in that brand will eventually wear out and cannot be replaced. I can wear some athletic shoes in other brands, but not to a wedding.

My question is whether or not you are aware of another brand that makes a sole as thick and cushy as Fitflop?  I rarely see this feature mentioned in your reviews, though what would be great for many other people does not please my feet.  I need to be separated from whatever I am walking on so that, as one sales person put it, I “cannot feel the ground”.

Dear reader,

In the past I’ve addressed footwear for metatarsalgia (ball-of-foot pain as a result of Morton’s neuroma, inflammatory arthritis, synovitis and other conditions), but it’s been a while. I understand that fat pad atrophy of the forefoot is often caused by one of the aforementioned conditions along with the aging process and subsequent break down of the fat pad (read more here).  I agree with you, I need to address this foot problem more frequently. It’s a difficult task to find footwear that offers as much forefoot cushioning as FitFlop (at least their original styles), but I have a few ideas of shoes for ball of foot pain that will hopefully put a cushiony barrier between your feet and the ground. I’ve attempted to offer dress to casual styles. So what are the best shoes for ball of foot pain? Let’s dive in.

Oofos are made from Oofoam. What? Yes, that’s right, it’s a thing. Oofoam is a proprietary closed-cell foam that offers 37% more impact absorption than traditional EVA foam–the perfect shoes for ball of foot pain. In laymen’s terms (my own because I have a pair), they feel like bouncy houses for my soles. They’re lightweight, airy, marshmallowy soft and restore the spring to my step. I think it would be difficult for achy metatarsals to even mildly complain when wearing Oofos recovery footwear. And what’s even better–they offer enhanced arch support and a rocker sole-type movement through the stride. Find Oofos footwear in sandals and closed toe options, sizes up to 13  for under $60-120 from Oofos.com,  Zappos and Amazon.

We love this contemporary fashion sneaker by Fitflop that carries APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association) Seal of Acceptance.  The Rally’s cushioning is amazing, the support is moderate. The toe box is roomy enough to accommodate a wider forefoot due to bunions, plus you can find a Rally style to fit your lifestyle from sneakers to slip-ons to boots.  If your painful forefoot craves dense cushioning, give Fitflop sandals and shoes a try. Find the whole collection of Fitflop sneakers in sizes 5-11 for around $100 from Fitflop.com, Zappos, Nordstrom and Amazon.

Sometimes an extra-cushy shoe isn’t the best choice if you suffer from plantar fasciitis along with metatarsalgia. We recommend Birkenstock’s soft footbed line of supportive yet cushioned sandals, mules and shoes (make sure the description specifically mentions “soft footbed”). The cork-latex footbed provides firm arch, heel and metatarsal support as a layer of latex foam offers more cushioning than the regular Birkenstock footbed. Find a variety of Birkenstock soft footbed shoes in euro sizes 36-46 for $120-150 (make sure the style mentions “soft footbed”) from Zappos, and Birkenstock.com. A tip on sizing: a narrow width Birkenstock fits a slightly narrow to medium width foot best. A regular width Birkenstock fits a wider foot.

Take it from a Zappos customer who found the relief she was looking for in the Birkenstock Tracy:

Metatarsalgia (ball-of-foot pain) has my foot aching even after a few steps. A firm footbed, supportive but not too high arch, and a substantial transverse arch help to alleviate the pain. Birkenstock clogs make me look like a Smurf, so I thought I’d take a chance on the Tracy. It was perfect for my feet straight out of the box. The narrow fits my low-volume feet, with enough toe box width and depth to prevent crowding. It’s got the real Birki footbed, though covered on the outside so it appears as trim as a ballet flat/mary jane. It pairs great with wider legged pants, skirts, etc. I liked it so much I bought it in black and in taupe. Give it a try if you need a trim but supportive shoe and like a firm insole.

Find the Birkenstock Tracy in euro sizes 36-41 (5-10) for $130 from Zappos, and Amazon.

Did you know that Crocs makes a clog with enhanced cushioning and arch support? The metatarsal area is thicker than typical Crocs to provide ball-of-foot pain relief. Find the Crocs Specialist in sizes 6-12 for $39.99 from Crocs.com.

The post Shoes for Ball of Foot Pain (Metatarsalgia): 6 Stylish Options with Underfoot Cushioning appeared first on Comfortable Shoes for Women (1,304 shoes reviewed over 9 years).