Sesamoiditis is when the tendon, bone, or surrounding area becomes inflamed and causes pain, swelling, and potentially even bruising. It’s a specific form of tendonitis.
Using the best insoles for sesamoiditis can help to relieve the symptoms. They should have robust support for the metatarsals and cushioning for the area of pain.
We chose the Footlogics Metatarsalgia insole as our top pick. It has good arch support, a stabilizing deep heel cup, and a built-in metatarsal raise.
We’ve compared some of the most popular insoles on the market that can help to ease your sesamoiditis pain.
Top 3 Best and Favorites
Best Overall
| Best Overall |
Footlogics Metatarsalgia
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| Check Price |
Top Value
| Top Value |
Spenco Total Support Gel
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| Check Price |
Best Leather
| Best Leather |
Pedag DELUXE
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| Check Price |
Best Overall
1. Footlogics Metatarsalgia
The Footlogics Metatarsalgia insole is effective for sesamoiditis, even though it’s named for a different foot condition.
It’s designed by podiatrists to relieve pain in the ball of the foot, which is what sesamoiditis is.
It’s a ¾-length insole, which means it stops just before the toes. You can buy it in sizes between extra small and extra large, so it’s suitable for everybody.
Although there’s no cushioning under the toes, it does have forefoot padding and a built-in metatarsal raise. This helps to lift the bones of the foot slightly, reducing pressure on the ball of the foot and alleviating pain significantly.
A deep heel cup with a shock-absorbing Podflex shock pad and prominent arch support helps to keep your foot in the correct alignment, reducing pressure. This prevents unnecessary movement of the foot.
It’s made from EVA foam that molds to your feet and is covered in a layer of faux suede for comfort.
If your existing insoles aren’t removable, you can place these on top of them in most cases. They’re low-profile, so they should fit in most shoes.
If your feet are between sizes, you may need to experiment with the insoles to find one in which the metatarsal raise is in the right place on your foot.
PROS:
- Built-in metatarsal raise
- Provides triplanar motion control
- Arch support
- Deep heel cup
CONS:
- If your feet are between sizes, it may take some experimenting to find the right insole for you
Top Runner-Up
2. Emsold Ultra-Thin Orthotic
The Emsold Ultra-Thin Orthotic is a low-profile insole that fits easily into almost any footwear.
It’s made of soft foam and has a genuine leather top layer for comfort and moisture absorption.
Semi-rigid arch support helps to align the foot and the joints, preventing pain and injury as a result of incorrect alignment. A deep heel cup helps to lock the foot into the insole, stopping it from moving around unnecessarily and aggravating the ball of the foot.
It has a built-in metatarsal pad, which is strategically placed to raise the metatarsal bones and get the toes into the right position to take pressure off the tendons.
The insoles may take a few days to break in. If you feel discomfort or pain, it may be wise to wear them for just a few hours at a time until your feet get used to them.
PROS:
- Low-profile design
- Soft foam metatarsal pad
- Semi-rigid arch support
- Genuine leather top layer
CONS:
- These insoles will need 2 to 3 days to break in
Best Value
3. Spenco Total Support Gel
The Spenco Total Support Gel insole is a TPR insole—thermoplastic rubber—which makes it durable and comfortable. It’s also affordable, while offering a lot of features to protect your feet.
For sesamoiditis, there’s built-in raised arch support to position your metatarsals correctly and relieve pressure. This helps to reduce pain in the ball of the foot.
The arch and heel are hugged by Stability Cradle technology. This offers comfort, contouring of the foot, and extra support that keep the foot stable when in the shoe.
In the heel, there’s a unique 3-POD Cushioning System that helps to absorb impact every time you step. For extra freshness, a Silpure antimicrobial layer prevents foot odor.
PROS:
- Stability cradle
- Metatarsal arch support
- Silpure antimicrobial material
- 3-POD Cushioning System
CONS:
- Some people may find the insoles to be heavy
Top For Keeping Your Feet Cool
4. Sof Sole AIRR Insole
The Sof Sole AIRR insole is extremely breathable and has a CoolMax top cover, which wicks away moisture and promotes coolness. It has a low-profile design that can fit into almost any shoe.
There’s no metatarsal support built into this insole, but it does have impressive forefoot cushioning. There’s a gel padding in the forefoot, which absorbs shock and comfortably cushions the painful part of the foot.
The arch and heel are also well-supported, with the Sof Sole Airr insole providing support for the arch and heel by way of encapsulated air chambers. SkyDex air capsules not only reduce vibration but are also quite comfortable.
The polyurethane footbed offers comfort across the entire foot. You can easily trim these insoles to fit inside any shoe.
PROS:
- CoolMax fabric top cover
- Gel forefoot cushioning
- Air capsules in heel and arch
- Neutral contour design
CONS:
- No specific metatarsal support
Best Leather
5. Pedag DELUXE
This ¾-length insole is made of vegetable-tanned leather. It’s moisture-wicking, soft on the skin, and durable.
There’s built-in metatarsal support right in the area you need it most. This helps to place the metatarsal bones in the right position, taking pressure off the tendons and sesamoid bones, which helps to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
In the midsole, hypoallergenic latex provides cushioning. This may not be suitable for those with latex allergies. It does use a water-based adhesive, rather than a petroleum-based one.
PROS:
- Vegetable-tanned leather
- Cushioned metatarsal arch support
- Hypoallergenic latex for cushioning
- Self-adhesive
CONS:
- May not be suitable for those with a latex allergy
Top For Microbial Resistance
6. Sidas Cushioning Gel
If you’re looking for an insole that’s antimicrobial as well as supportive, then the Sidas Cushioning Gel insole is our recommendation.
The top cover has bamboo fibers in it, which provide excellent antimicrobial properties. Micro-perforations make it very breathable.
These insoles are a great choice for sesamoiditis, even though they don’t have a specific metatarsal raise or pad. Gel micro-bubbles in the gel pockets at the heel and ball of the foot provide cushioning.
These bubbles absorb shock and disperse it, effectively reducing pressure from the forefoot and easing pain and inflammation. They mold to the foot over time, ensuring continuous effectiveness.
A range of dynamic gel cushions on the underside of this insole provides comfort, shock absorption, and support.
They range in size from extra small to XX large. You can cut the insole carefully with a pair of scissors to fit to your shoe. If you have wide feet, these insoles may be too narrow for you.
PROS:
- Bamboo top cover
- Micro-perforations
- Gel micro-bubbles in the forefoot and heel
- Dynamic gel cushioning
CONS:
- The insoles may be too narrow for those with wide feet
FAQs
What is Sesamoiditis?
Sesamoiditis is a painful foot condition that causes pain in the ball of the foot, just beneath the big toe joint.
Sesamoids are small, round bones that connect to the tendons that control the big toe. The sesamoid bones are under tremendous force and pressure every time your foot pushes off the ground because of this.
This repetitive motion causes the tendons to become irritated and inflamed. You’ll then start to notice pain under the ball of the foot that gradually gets worse with time.
As the condition becomes more severe, you may find that you’re unable to walk comfortably or unable to place any weight on the big toe.
You may even notice pain when you try to bend your big toe upwards, and there may be redness or swelling around the toe joint.
What are the Best Treatments?
To treat sesamoiditis, you’ll want to alleviate any pressure that’s placed on the sesamoid bones. Changing the type of footwear you wear can drastically reduce the pressure and pain, as well as provide cushioning.
Look for shoes that have a spacious toe box with cushioning in the forefoot and adequate arch support. This will not only reduce the pressure on the sesamoid bones, but give them the space to heal.
You can use specific sesamoiditis pads or strap the area to relieve tension in the forefoot. Orthotic devices that are designed to take pressure off the forefoot can be used to reduce the load, relieve pain, and promote healing.
Stretching and strengthening exercises can help you to regain your range of motion and alleviate pain.
What to Look for with Insoles for Sesamoiditis
Insoles will reduce the amount of pressure that’s placed on the forefoot and can encourage healing.
When looking for an insole, you’ll want to make sure that it has a raised, cushioned metatarsal pad. This will allow your toes to splay naturally and reduce friction on the tendons.
Make sure that there’s plenty of cushioning in the forefoot, as this will absorb shock and provide overall comfort. The insoles should have adequate arch support for your feet and a deep heel cup.
These will provide better stability and distribute the pressure evenly through the metatarsal bones, reducing the load on the toes.
