Foot Pain

Foot Pain- Nine Possible Reasons

Everyone knows the obvious reasons our feet can hurt from time to time. These culprits include bunions, plantar warts and too many hours walking in high heels. But there is also a plethora of other reasons your feet may be ailing you. Here is a list of 9 ways you might be putting extra stress on your feet, causing unwanted foot pain.

  1. You Haven’t Changed Your Shoe Size Since College – If you recently have not had your feet measured, there is a good change you are wearing the wrong size shoe out of habit. Over time, your feet can grow in size (even after you thought they stopped growing.) Having a proper shoe fitting is always important, because feet can increase in size with both age or pregnancy. A good rule of thumb is, if an older pair of shoes begin to hurt or bother your feet, it is time to let them go.
  2. Shoe Shopping During the Morning – If you have gone shoe shopping during the start of your day, chances are the same pair you just bought doesn’t fit that night. Why? During the course of the day, your feet swell from walking and putting pressure on them. It’s always good to go shoe shopping at the end of the day once your feet are the most swollen to prevent foot pain.
  3. Fashion over Functionality – Its not rocket science that high heels are not good for your feet. They put your foot at an unnatural angle and can cause your toes to squished into a small, restrictive space. But did you know that flats can also damage your feet? Flats with a constrictive toe box can cause problems, as well as not having any sort of arch support. You should also avoid shoes with pointed tips (these cause crowding of the toes.) This can lead to the formation of callus, bone spurs, inflamed nerves and can promote toe deformities.
  4. You’ve Gained Weight – There is nothing wrong with putting on a little weight every now and again. A person’s feet bear 2 to 3 times your body weight when walking and up to 5 times when running. So while a few pounds around your midriff doesn’t make a huge difference, it makes a big impact on your feet.
  5. The Same Sneakers 24/7 – It may seem like a ploy for sneaker companies to sell all these different types of sneakers just to make money, but they all have different purposes. Running shoes, walking shoes, cross-training sneakers- they all have different support and cushioning for each activity. For example, running sneakers are lightweight with maximum cushioning; While walking shoes are more durable and heavier.
  6. You Injured Your Back, Knee, Hip, etc. – If you’re nursing an injury that makes walking painful, your feet will pick up the slack. Your body will naturally guard an injured area, and the resultant limp will place added pressure on the next-best joint.
  7. Overboard at the Gym – If you have been doing high-impact exercise repeatedly recently, you may have caused a stress fracture. A stress fracture is a tiny break caused by repetitive force. If your feet hurt more with each workout or you experience swelling, you should see your doctor.
  8. Barefoot 24/7 – While being barefoot while a child is great, once you have an established healthy foot structure- you need support. When humans walk, the ground usually hits our heel first. Shoes are a great way to absorb the shock. Spending too much time barefoot or in flat and flexible shoes (like flip-flops) puts extra stress on your feet and boosts the risk of injury.
  9. Arch Support – The older you get, the flatter your feet become (from the constant weight they bare.) Just like getting refitted for shoes over time, you should also get new arch supports. Podiatrists can create a custom insert or orthotic that will help prevent joint breakdown.

Thank you to Prevention.com for the original information on foot pain. You can read more here.

Posted in Foot Care News.