One Step You Can Take to Prevent Foot Pain

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Every day, patients visit Podiatry Group of Annapolis, P.A. seeking relief from discomfort. For some of these people, the pain comes from anatomical issues that have developed over the years, such as plantar fasciitis or bunions. For others, foot pain comes from a single source, one that is easy to identify and fix: high heeled shoes.

More than two-thirds of American women own high heeled shoes. About half of those save them for parties and special occasions. The other half wear them every day. Those stilettos are fashion-forward, but they are terrible for your feet, ankles, legs, hips, and back. By raising the heels and pushing the hips forward, they take the body out of alignment. You’ll probably be fine if you only take a chance once in a while but a long-term preference for high heels leaves you vulnerable to foot and ankle injuries, pain, and a host of preventable podiatric deformities.

  • Have you ever heard of “pump bump?” Known more formally as Haglund’s deformity, it occurs when the rigid backs of high heeled shoes irritate tissue around the Achilles tendon and cause a painful bony enlargement to grow on the back of the heel.
  • High heels are believed to contribute to plantar fasciitis because they change the way your weight is distributed and tax the sole of the foot.
  • The typically narrow toe boxes on high heel shoes are notorious for squeezing and pushing the toes together, putting wearers at increased risk of hammertoes and neuromas.
  • By increasing the stress on the foot, your pumps can create calluses on the soles of your feet and corns on the sides and tops.
  • Fans of high heels suffer from bunions more often than others do. Not only will a bunion make it uncomfortable to wear your party pumps, it can cause pain in any shoe at all. 
  • Bone damage can occur after years of wearing high heels day after day, but it doesn’t always take that long for injury to occur. Walking over a long distance or for an extended period of time in heels can cause stress fractures or cracks in the bones of the feet.

One of the very best choices that you can make for your foot health is to give up those stilettos. If you’re not ready to take that leap, save them for special occasions. For every day, choose comfortable, sensible shoes with a low, chunky heel and a wide, roomy toe box. Non-slip soles will help prevent falls.

Are you experiencing discomfort or any other problem in your feet, ankles, or lower legs? Call Podiatry Group of Annapolis, P.A. at 410-224-4448 or click here today to schedule an appointment with James M. McKee, DPM, FACFAS. We’ll have you back on your feet before you know it.

 

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