Selecting the "Last" of a Shoe to Prevent 5th Metatarsal Pain?

[Chas Tennis]

The "last" of a shoe is a shape of wood or plastic that reflects the shape of the foot. A shoe maker may use a last to make a shoe.

I have prominent 5th Metatarsals with worse pain being caused at the right 5th Metatarsal, end nearest the ankle - by a corn. I am concerned about new shoes especially about how the curvature of the shoe "last" used to manufacture the shoe might be too curved for my straight feet. I never heard of a "last" before.

Fit Philosophy — Find the shoe with your proper fit at Running Niche in St. Louis, MO — Running Niche

Running Niche is a locally owned running and walking retail store in the Grove neighborhood of Saint Louis, MO. Specialty footwear brands Brooks, On, Hoka, Newton, 361, Altra, Mizuno, Hoka One One and more. Located near Wash U, Forest Park, and Tower Grove Park. If you have been wondering where the

runningniche.com

"FIT IMPORTANCE:

Once foot type has been established, assessing proper fit is the next critical element. Running shoes are made on a “last” which is a shape that dictates the dimensions of the heel, midfoot or “waist” of the shoe, ball girth and toe box among other key measurements.

Running shoe lasts are commonly made as straight, semi-curved and curved. Each of these last types aligns with a specific foot type: Straight/Over Pronation, Semi-Curved/Neutral and Curved/Supination. Each brand has their unique dimensions for their last’s assortment, which is why fit between brands can be quite different, even within styles within a brand. A clear understanding of the last type each shoe is made on is critical to the proper fit process. This only comes from experience working with many runners on our store floor."


My shoes are one possible cause. Did the shoe last bend my 5th M ? I have no idea what to look for in a shoe for this issue. Seeing a pediatrist. .....................

If you have learned anything about the following please post -
Curved feet
Straight feet
"lasts" for curved feet
"lasts" for straight feet
Fitting shoes to prevent corns
Shoe manufacturers that use lasts for straight feet
Shoe manufacturers that use lasts for curved feet.
Any information on the 5th Metatarsal (end near ankle) & shoes
For corns.

I found that there is a wooden shoe stretcher where a metal curved shape can be inserted to stretch spots in the shoe, like the 5th M. I intend to try this at the 5th Metatarsal, near my ankle.

Earlier thread.

The 5th Metatarsal is the long bone on the outside of the foot, it goes to the little toe. There are 5th M injuries, some of which are caused by trauma. My pains are near the Cuboids. Cuboid injury can cause pain felt at the 5th Metatarsal. I read one warning that Cuboid injury can become a cartilage injury, so I'm concerned about playing with this foot pain. There are some complicating factors.

I started playing tennis in May after 2 years off from Covid. Started using compression stockings, all day use. I take walks for 35-40 minutes on hills and have little 5th M pain. A few weeks ago, I had been having some pain after tennis at both 5th Metatarsals. I missed a few weeks with possible hip strain and I'm starting back again. The 5th M pain after tennis was there again this past Monday.

There are several complicating factors:
1) My 5th Metatarsal bony knobs, next to Cuboids, look a bit prominent.
2) Both Metatarsals have pain after tennis.
3) Compression Stockings. I now wear compression stockings all day due to venous insufficiency. Toeless. 20-30 mm pressure. I changed to toeless because the ones with toes caused pain to the bones of my toes when sitting. I think the stocking foot was too short for my size 14s. On the other hand, the toeless stockings may slip away from the toes toward the middle of the foot still covering the bony knob of the 5th M by 1 1/4". Do the compression stockings themselves cause pain at the Cuboid/5th M during court running?
4) Sock to protect compression stockings. This special sock can't add much more compression.
4) Shoes. I lost my tennis shoes somehow. Have been trying to find new flexible shoes with inserts that fit correctly. Current shoes, New Balance Minimus Shoes with Spenco inserts. When playing, does my 5th M ever contact the court directly?
5) Arch Support Insert. The shoe insert has some arch support, that tilts down toward the outside of my foot. Does my foot slide to the outside and cause court contact of the 5th M?

I'm getting a referral to a Podiatrist.

If anyone has dealt with pain near the 5th Metatarsal, please post your experience.

 

[Chas Tennis]

I was very pleased by the way this has worked so far to modify my NB shoe.

This picture also illustrates my concern with my straight feet and and what I consider a curved last on these shoes. ?

I bought a FootFitter shoe width stretcher and this is my first stretch on a New Balance Minimus shoe. See the bulge on the shoe made by the shoe width stretcher where the metal insert was. My corn is located on/under the 5th Metatarsal shown. The corn is in process of being removed by the pediatrist.

Look at the metal insert on the shoe stretcher. To the right is the prominent sore bone end of my 5th Metatarsal with the corn. To the left, is the new bulge pressed into the NB shoe with some heat from a hair dryer. The shoe stretcher was carefully placed where my the bone was felt on the side of my shoe and then marked on the shoe surface. So far so good.......

I don't know how this works yet for my pain. Or whether the pediatrist will choose another correction. But it should relieve the shoes pressure on my corn area.

(Decades ago, my friend and I had a contest on the boardwalk to see who had the best looking feet. I lost.)

 

[Chas Tennis]

Has anyone considered the shoe's last when selecting shoes?