COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF METATARSAL BAR AND PAD ON PAIN, FUNCTION AND PLANTAR PRESSURE IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY METATARSALGIA
Keywords:
Primary marsalgia; Metatarsal bar; Metatarsal pad; Pain; Foot function; Plantar pressure; Orthosis.Abstract
Background: Primary metatarsalgia is a common forefoot condition associated with pain, functional limitation, and excessive plantar loading. Metatarsal bars and pads are frequently used as conservative orthotic interventions to redistribute plantar pressure and reduce symptoms. However, their comparative effectiveness remains unclear.
Objective: To compare the effects of a metatarsal bar and metatarsal pad on pain, foot function, and plantar pressure in patients with primary metatarsalgia.
Methodology: A randomized controlled trial was conducted among 24 patients aged 20–60 years with clinically diagnosed primary metatarsalgia. Participants were randomly allocated into two equal groups. Group A received a metatarsal bar attached to the outer sole of the footwear, while Group B received a metatarsal pad placed proximal to the metatarsal heads inside the shoe. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), foot function using the Foot Function Index (FFI), and plantar pressure using a foot-scanner plantar-pressure test. Pre- and post-intervention outcomes were analyzed using paired and independent sample t-tests.
Results: Both groups demonstrated substantial improvements in pain, foot function, and plantar pressure following intervention. The metatarsal-bar group showed greater improvement, with VAS decreasing from 6.79 to 2.45, FFI from 61.83 to 24.00, and plantar pressure from 420.00 to 282.08. In the metatarsal-pad group, VAS decreased from 6.75 to 3.53, FFI from 62.25 to 34.91, and plantar pressure from 419.53 to 322.19. Overall, the metatarsal bar produced superior clinical and biomechanical outcomes.
Conclusion: Both metatarsal interventions were beneficial; however, the metatarsal bar demonstrated greater improvements in pain, functional ability, and plantar-pressure distribution and may therefore be considered the more effective conservative orthotic intervention for primary metatarsalgia.
