If you’ve ever hobbled off the dance floor at a wedding with your heels in hand, or ever found yourself looking forward to the moment you go home after a long day spent in meetings, so that you can slip your work shoes off- you’ll know that shoes can easily cause foot pain.
This holds true for all types of footwear, not just the fancy kind…
Exercise shoes, office shoes, sandals, and that pair of weekend errand running shoes we all have can all lead to painful feet as well.
But, before you throw out every pair of shoes you own, let’s talk about your feet.
A lot of us are unaware of just how big of a role our feet and ankles play in supporting our bodies.
Feet play a huge role in supporting all of your body weight and taking the impact of standing, walking, running, and everything else that you do throughout the day.
Your feet are made up of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Crazy to think about, huh? So when your feet don’t get the support that they need, it’s no wonder why you can start to get issues!
Lack of support can also cause pain beyond your feet. Your knees, back, and other parts of your body begin to overcompensate, which can lead to pain in those areas too. Not good at all!
listen to this podcast about the foot and ankle. Click here
With all of the above in mind, here are 6 shoe mistakes that cause foot pain. Are you making any of them?
1) You’re Unaware of Your Arches
Generally speaking, there are two types of feet: High arched and low arched.
And the demands of these two types are quite different!
Someone with high arched feet has taller ‘gaps’ on the soles of their feet.
For someone with low arches, the curve between the balls of the foot and heels is closer to the ground.
The curve of your shoe should support your arches so that they can support the rest of your feet and body. A good running shop, shoe shop, or physical therapy clinic can figure out what’s best for you.
2) You Choose Your Running Shoes Based on Appearance
Have you ever purchased a pair of shoes because you think they look good? You’re definitely not alone. Many of us do.
The truth is, picking the right performance shoe should be a strategic process.
When you need a new pair of running shoes, go into a specialty running store and speak with a specialist. It’s important to consider things such as the type of exercise you’ll be doing. Running over 20 miles outdoors each week is very different from doing pilates classes a few times a week!
If you can afford to, have a few different shoes for the workouts that you do most often.
Wearing tennis shoes for running, or basketball shoes for weight lifting can promote injuries- choose wisely!
if you’re in the Peoria, az area and are unaware of what shoe you need check out this shop: http://tortoiseandharesports.com/
3) You ‘Break In’ Your New Shoes
It’s true that some shoes made of various materials, like hiking boots, might need some ‘breaking in’ before you get to the point where you feel like you’re walking on clouds.
Your shoes need to become accustomed to your feet over time to avoid the pain and nasty blisters that so often come with a new pair of shoes.
Instead of pushing through the pain, wear your shoes a little at a time until they loosen naturally. Whether you’re doing this at home or out while getting errands done, keep a pair of socks handy to prevent blisters.
4) You Walk Around Barefoot at Home
Do you throw your shoes off as soon as you step through the door after a long day?
For many of us, taking our shoes off is one of the best feelings! But for some people, walking or standing barefoot on surfaces like hardwood floors, marble, or tile places stress on the structures of the feet, causing pain or making it worse over time.
This can happen when the fleshy parts of your heel or balls of your feet, that help cushion your body weight, wear down.
If you have foot pain that feels worse when you walk around barefoot, get a pair of slippers to wear around the hour to ease the pain.
5) You Don’t Use Insoles
…Or understand their purpose.
Depending on your foot type and foot pain, you might have insoles that come with your shoes. However, they may not be right or even supportive for you.
To ease the pain, stop it from getting worse and prevent it from coming on in the first place, it’s a smart idea to get yourself a pair of customizable insoles (also known as orthotics).
They also act to make activities, such as running, walking, and standing, more efficient. They can also act to redistribute pressure on the bottom of the foot to relieve pain from excessive pressure or calluses.
Rarely are true custom orthotics available in many places, and most definitely not in shoe stores, retail stores, or pharmacies. They can be pricey, so be sure you have tried everything else before jumping into a custom set.
6) Still Wearing That Worn Down Pair of Shoes From 2014
Many of us throw away a pair of shoes when they’re looking worse for wear and worn down.
But once the sole of your shoe begins to break down, it changes the way your foot strikes the ground. This can ultimately cause pain in your feet, hips, knees, and back. It can even happen before your shoes start showing obvious signs of wear.
Depending on your activity level, it takes months to a year of daily use to wear out footwear.
If you really love a pair of shoes, then re-soling them or adding an inset can help to prolong their wear.
But don’t hold onto a pair of shoes for too long, before it’s too late!
The takeaway: Your feet are probably doing way more than you give them credit for, so they need shoes to match!
The right choices for you will depend on your activity levels, height, weight, walking, and running style. If you’re experiencing any kind of foot pain that lasts for days, it makes it almost impossible to live your life as normal.
If you’d like to read more tips and tricks to ease and prevent foot and ankle pain, here is my free report:
Dr, Nick’s greatest passion is seeing his patients recover from injury and return to their activities that bring them joy.
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