How Footwear Can Affect Foot Health

Different shoe styles can place repeated stress on the feet, sometimes leading to painful structural problems, over time. Narrow toe boxes may crowd the toes and contribute to bunions, overlapping toes, hammertoes, and ingrown toenails. High-heeled shoes shift body weight forward, increasing pressure on the front of the foot, and potentially causing nerve irritation, callus formation, and joint pain. Shoes with poor arch support may worsen heel pain, tendon strain, or foot fatigue. Wearing flat, unsupportive footwear can also increase stress on certain muscles and ligaments. These issues are often seen in women because some popular footwear styles place the foot in less natural positions for extended periods of time. A podiatrist can assess how footwear choices may be affecting foot structure, comfort, and walking mechanics, while recommending appropriate solutions. If your shoes are causing ongoing foot pain or visible changes, it is suggested that you visit a podiatrist for an evaluation.

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with one of our podiatrists from Pennsylvania Foot & Ankle. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Causes

Foot pain is a very broad condition that could be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

  • Bunions
  • Hammertoes
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Bone Spurs
  • Corns
  • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Ingrown Toenails
  • Arthritis (such as Gout, Rheumatoid, and Osteoarthritis)
  • Flat Feet
  • Injury (from stress fractures, broken toe, foot, ankle, Achilles tendon ruptures, and sprains)
  • And more

Diagnosis

To figure out the cause of foot pain, podiatrists utilize several different methods. This can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment depends upon the cause of the foot pain. Whether it is resting, staying off the foot, or having surgery; podiatrists have a number of treatment options available for foot pain.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Bensalem, Philadelphia, Northeast Philadelphia, Yardley, PA, and Hamilton, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

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