Anatomy of the forefoot, normal and pathologic.

The metatarsophalangeal joints divide the forefoot as a lever for the push-off into two segments. The proximal segment is used for the first antigravitational phase, and the distal is added when the foot has gained speed. The ligaments of the ball of the foot are tied to the distal segment and are in their function dependent on free mobility of this segment. Thus, for the kinematics of the foot, for the stability of the arches, and for the ability of the skin to withstand shear forces, it is important to select a shoe that does not compress the toes, restrict their movements unnecessarily or expose the metatarsal heads to uneven pressure.