Hapads: Good OTC Foot Support

Hi Doctor quick question.  Can you double up on hapads when I place them in the shoe? In other words can I put one on top of another? I have a bad case of metatarsalgia on one metatarsal for close to a year.  Thanks 

Dr Blake's response: For sure. Hapads are nice since you can add and then peel some or trim some of the thickness back as needed. Rich


https://www.hapad.com/

2nd Metatarsal Help: Email Advice

Hi Dr Blake

     I am a 52 year old male and have been a practicing martial artist for 40 years. Over the past two years I have had a number of problems with my feet after suffering from Gout (hopefully now under control with diet modification) and having had hallux rigidus in my left big toe for as long as I can remember. 

     Of late the biggest problem has been with the second metatarsal on both feet which has made me question whether I would be able to continue my martial arts practice (which combines bare foot and shoe covered activity). After months of despair I came across your YouTube film on Spica taping and have today, with both feet taped, walked without pain for the first time In ages.

I wanted to say thank you for posting the film as it has given me great hope. One question I was unsure of was how long I could keep the tape on for? In the film your assistant said it would last a couple of days and that's fine I just wondered if there is a need to have a 'tape free' period on a regular basis?

Dr Blake's comment: The taping should be used when needed only after you have had 2 weeks of pain relief. Golden Rule of Foot: Tape or Brace for 2 weeks longer than you think you need to if the tape/brace provided a pain free or pain reduced environment. If you have been out of pain for 2 weeks, begin to experiment when you need it and when not. It usually is quite evident with increase pain during or just after an activity. With taping for the 2nd toe/metatarsal area, you should be icing 3 times per day for 10 minutes. A reusuable ice pack on the bottom of your foot while you multi-task is great. Consider some form of metatarsal support like the Hapads commonly demonstrated on my blog. Good luck and I am glad you are getting some good relief. 

Once again my sincere thanks for your help.

Take care.

Hapads: Help for Stability and Pain Relief

Hapad, Inc. makes a large number of adhesive felt pads which easily attach into the arch of shoes. For shoes that have minimal room for extra stuff, the Hapad support has proved invaluable for my practice over the years. Ballet slippers or high heels are perfect uses of these pads when room is an issue, but for many patients this can be there primary arch support in all their shoes. You can easily order this product from http://www.hapad.com/ or call 1-800-544-2723 to find local distributors. You can also email at info@hapad.com. I tend to use two products routinely---the small Longitudinal Metatarsal Arch Pad and the small Metatarsal Pad. Even though they are the small versions, they tend to be very adequate for most instances. The photo above shows the small Longitudinal Metatarsal Arch Pad being placed in the shoes. I use these for medial arch and metatarsal arch support. You must experiment with the placement so it doesn't increase any pain, and you can thin the felt by peeling in layers or trimming the edges with scissors. They should feel like obnoxious lumps just next to the place of pain, and they do smooth out over time. One pecularity is that I use the right in the left shoe and left one in the right shoe. The curve of the insert seems to match the curve of the shoe better. I also place the metatarsal pad perpendicular to the diagram on the package with the thickest part by the second metatarsal and thinnest part by the fifth metatarsal (see photo below).

 

For the Longitudinal Metatarsal Arch Pad I like to place part of the pad so it goes onto the side of the shoe (into the arch better), and not just stay on the bottom of the foot. Of course, this will not work in some ballet slippers, high heels, and sandals.

One question I get asked all the time concerns when you are only treating one foot for pain, do you need these inserts in both sides. Technically "no" since you are not placing under the heel or ball of the foot and one side would create a leg length difference. But most patients do feel more balanced when placed into both shoes. I hope this product proves very helpful for you and it has thousands of my patients.