Immediate Effects of the Metatarsal Dome Element on the Overload of the Central Metatarsals in Young Subjects

This study examines the immediate effects of using a dome-shaped metatarsal pad on reducing central metatarsal loading and attempts to correlate central metatarsal overload with metatarsal morphology, laterality (identifying which foot more frequently experiences forefoot overload), gender, and BMI. The sample consisted of 50 participants aged between 18 and 49, all students from the Vale do Ave School of Health, without exclusion criteria, and showing at least one peak point of overload in one of the central metatarsals. This overload was measured using the isobaric variant of colometry on a pressure platform, in a standardized position as defined in the methodology. The study concludes that applying a metatarsal dome element significantly reduces peak pressure in the forefoot, confirming a statistically significant effect on reducing middle metatarsal region overload. No significant relationships were found between middle metatarsal overload and factors such as digital or metatarsal morphology, gender, or BMI, although a statistically significant relationship was noted with foot laterality, with the left foot showing greater overload. The study suggests that future research could refine these findings by categorising foot types (normal, cavus, or flat) to explore potential correlations with metatarsal overload and increasing the sample size for improved statistical reliability.