Sesamoiditis Treated with Dancer's Pads

Sesamoiditis is a painful foot condition on the bottom of the big toe joint. It occurs when the two pea-shaped foot bones called sesamoids and the surrounding tissue becomes inflamed. Sesamoiditis can occur from several methods. Some common causes are from trauma, overpronation, arthritis, ill-fitting shoes and overuse. Dancers, especially ballet dancers commonly get sesamoiditis from their use of the ball of the foot.

Conservative treatment of sesamoiditis includes physical therapy, ice, rest, anti-inflammatory medication and dancer's pads. Dancer's pads are foot pads designed to offload the big toe joint ( 1st MPJ). This will allow stress off the sesamoid to speed up the healing. Dancers pads for sesamoiditis are a ball of foot pads with the big toe joint cut out. These pads can be manufactured from stick-on adhesive felt or foam. Another type of dancer's pads is produced from a self-sticking reusable gel. Most of the time physicians will apply the foot cushion directly to the skin. The pads can be changed daily. Another option is to stick the dancer's/sesamoid pad to the insole of the shoe. This cushion does not need to be changed since it is already in the shoe.



Atlas Biomechanics is a woman-owned sports medical manufacturer of dancers pads for sesamoiditis. The most popular foot pad among our physician clients to treat the sesamoids is our felt 1/4" dancers/sesamoid pads.

Teri Green
Atlas Biomechanics