Metatarsal Pain: Consider Bike Shoes with Embedded Cleat

     Had a patient today with chronic bilateral metatarsal pain. As we work through the diagnosis, I suggested to get bike shoes with embedded cleats to wear at least 4 hours per day to decrease the motion across the sore areas. I find thinking about making changes in the biomechanics of the patient can usually make significant improvements. This is even true when you have the patient use those changes for parts of each day. 

Hike and Bike Shoes for Immobilization of the Bend at the Forefoot

I have been using Hike and Bike shoes to immobilize the foot while not having the negative impact of a removable cast in some patients. There is one used in a plantar fascial tear for the 3 months I normally cast the foot with a removable boot. If the patient especially has a back problem, the evenness of wearing a pair of shoes like these can be great. Remember you are not able to bend your foot in push off, or it will hurt you. Therefore, it immobilizes the pull of the plantar fascia. Any metatarsal  problem could be helped by this, even if it is only part of your treatment to vary the stresses 2-4 hours a day. Sesamoid problems, turf toe, metatarsalgia or stress fractures may be helped. 

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