Morton's neuroma is characterized by the inflammation of a nerve in the foot. The nerve gets trapped beneath the bones in the ball of the foot, causing discomfort.
Repeated injury is the main culprit behind the enlargement of the affected nerve. The entrapment usually occurs between the metatarsal heads, commonly between the second and third or third and fourth toes. As a result, people may experience symptoms like pain and numbness in the affected toes, with varying degrees of severity. These symptoms can come and go, ranging from periods of relief to intense episodes.
Luckily, there is a simple way to ease the pain and discomfort of Morton’s neuroma, and even prevent it: the right shoes.
And this simple way is backed by science. A 2020 research found that “Therapeutic footwear may improve patient gait and increase the level of ambulation; on the contrary, inadequate footwear can worsen the symptoms and be a contributing cause for the development of the pathology.”
The report goes on to recommend shoes that distribute pressure evenly across the sole of the foot, are adequately sized, comfortable, have a wide toe box, flat heel and a sufficiently thick and non-flexible outer sole with a rocker bottom.