Nearly everyone has sore feet at some point, and it’s those times when you realize just how much you depend on your feet. Even a little foot discomfort can cause pain with every step, interfering with daily activities and taking a toll on your quality of life.
At Texas Orthopaedic Associates, our team helps patients of all ages manage their foot pain with custom plans and lifestyle tips to help keep pain at bay. In this post, learn eight bad habits that could be making your feet sore and tired.
1. Choosing shoes that fit poorly
Plenty of people choose shoes based on what they look like, a habit that leaves your feet open to all sorts of problems. Shoes that crowd your toes, pinch your heel, or are too loose or too tight in any part of your foot can leave you with problems like corns, calluses, hammertoes, bunions, and neuromas.
2. Wearing high heels
Slipping on a pair of heels occasionally is probably fine (unless you have an existing foot problem), but wearing them on a regular basis or for a long period of time is not a good idea. Heels push your toes forward and down, subjecting them to a lot of pressure. Plus, the forward slant of heels can lead to calluses, corns, ingrown toenails, and knee and back pain, too.
3. Wearing flat shoes
High heels can be a poor choice for your feet, but flats are no better. Flat shoes offer absolutely no arch support, risking pain, irritation, and inflammation throughout the midfoot region and into your heel area, too.
4. Not replacing shoes often enough
Shoes aren’t designed to last forever. Over time, supportive features wear out, leaving you without cushioning in areas where it’s most needed. Look for signs of wear at the heel, the soles, and the interior lining to decide when it’s time for a new pair.
5. Skipping socks
Socks prevent friction that can lead to blisters, corns, and calluses, plus they absorb moisture to reduce your risk of fungal infections. Carry an extra pair with you so you can change your socks if they get damp.
6. Going barefoot
Going barefoot is often billed as the “natural” way to walk, but actually, it comes with a lot of risks, too. First, when your feet are bare, you expose them to fungi, germs, and injuries like cuts, splinters, and burns. Plus, when you’re barefoot, your feet have no support, increasing your risks of “fallen” arches, foot pain, and even pain in your knees and back.
7. Using over-the-counter inserts
Shoe inserts seem like a simple, convenient solution to all sorts of foot problems, but these over-the-counter products could make your foot problems worse. That’s because store inserts are designed for the general population without taking your unique problems or foot shape into consideration.
Custom orthotics are made just for you, so you can relieve foot pain and protect your feet from further problems.
8. Ignoring foot problems
Like any other medical problem, foot problems respond best to prompt treatment. If you have any type of foot problem or foot symptom, having an evaluation right away can help you feel better and prevent your problem from getting worse. Our team performs an in-depth exam to identify the cause of your foot problems, tailoring every treatment plan for your unique needs.
If you’re having foot pain or other foot-related symptoms, our team at Texas Orthopaedic Associates can help. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone at one of our offices in Dallas, Plano, Keller, Weatherford, and Fort Worth, Texas.
