Footwear and sore feet
Sore feet, sore toes and foot conditions can be a real problem for some and the type of footwear we use can play a part in this.
In clinic, we are often asked about what type of shoes to wear when you have sore feet; and whether your foot ailment is chronic or the result of injury, poorly designed shoes or the “wrong” kind of footwear for you foot pain can really aggravate your foot-related problems and cause additional pain.
See here information regarding common foot and ankle injuries: http://thefootandlegclinic/areas-of-concern-foot-ankle-conditions/
Footwear fact.
Fact. Different footwear suit different feet. Some feet should be heavily supported whilst others are perfectly ok in a minimally supported shoe. Knowing what level of pain and discomfort you are feeling and the type of condition or injury you have will go a long way to being able to recommend the type of footwear you should be wearing – either until the pain subsides or permanently depending on the problem.
Footwear and Runners
Taken runners for example: a minimal shoe will be “the perfect running shoes” for many whilst others will struggle with foot or leg pain wearing this type of shoe. Why? Because we all have different types of feet and different footwear suit different feet. For those that have a foot that is not functioning well due to changes in the structure of the foot, they will require additional support from the shoe during training runs and on race day. The degree of shoe support will vary too!
Footwear isn’t the only solution either, foot mobilisation is an excellent therapy as it can help restore function of the muscles of the foot and calf; and can often enhance the function of the foot whilst running. A running analysis or gait analysis session can also play a part in this as the session will identify a pattern that could be contributing to your foot pain.
Running analysis performed by the appropriately experienced clinician is a great way for highlighting reasons for recurrent muscle and joint strains.
Footwear and Walkers.
Similarly when walking – the degree of support varies from person to person depending on the foot type and type of walking / hillwalking activity. Some people find a less supportive shoe totally ok; whilst others struggle with foot, knee or back pain. As an example, a completely flat heel on a shoe can often be the cause of lower back pain and calf pain in walkers with increased pronation. It’s worth remembering that the heel of the shoe is the difference between the height measured under the heel to the height measured under the forefoot.
A biomechanical assessment is useful to highlight reasons for recurrent aches whilst walking.
https://thefootandlegclinic.co.uk/biomechanical/assessments/
A common foot condition
One of the most common foot conditions we see in The Foot and Leg Clinic is plantar fasciitis; this is where you have pain on the bottom of your foot, around your heel and arch, this can also be known as “heel spur”. Often, a simple change in footwear is enough to reduce the symptoms and you may find your pain reduces significantly by wearing different shoes.
For examples of foot and ankle injuries read here
https://thefootandlegclinic.co.uk/foot-ankle-conditions
Footwear and plantar fasciitis
If you are suffering with pain under the arch of the heel of your foot, then try footwear that has:
A thick sole
A heel height of perhaps 10mm on average (this is when the height measured under the heel of the shoe is higher that the height measured under the forefoot section)
A soft sole unit
A stiff sole unit (i.e it shouldn’t flex too easily)
Many folk are required to wear foot orthotics if it is not possible to gain all the support the need from footwear.
Read here for more on our Orthotic Service https://thefootandlegclinic.co.uk/orthotics/
Treatment and assessment in clinic.
Small changes to your footwear and incorporating some simple foot strengthening exercises into your weekly routine could be enough to illuminate any foot pain, but if the pain and discomfort continues and you are unable to take part in your usual level of activity, a biomechanical assessment and further treatment in The Foot and Leg Clinic is the next step.
https://thefootandlegclinic.co.uk/biomechanical-assessments/
