People such as factory workers, nurses, and restaurant workers spend the better half of their days on their feet. You have to understand how your schedule is likely to affect your health especially your feet. The feet play a significant role in supporting your whole body throughout the day. So, they can become fatigued or even ache.
Wearing a poor choice of footwear might cause plantar fasciitis or bunions and can even affect the arch of the foot or pain at the heel. This happens especially when wearing fabric shoes that don’t offer support. Avoiding this requires wearing shoes with thick soles to cushion and support the feet. This significantly reduces the possibility of developing plantar fascia and other related problems.
Below is how your shoes affect your feet
High heels
Your body supports your weight when standing. When wearing high heels, the ball of your foot supports all your weight. Overtime, you’re likely to develop conditions like Morton’s neuroma where you feel like you are walking on pebbles and metatarsalgia where you have pain on the ball of the feet. All these conditions can result from excess pressure. This pressure and restricted space inside the shoes are likely to encourage corns, which are painful calluses and can cause the skin to become hard.
People such as bankers or lawyers have to wear heels to look professional on the job. In this case, you have to look for heels with the best properties. These include shoes with a wider and round toe but not narrow and pointed. The best podiatrists in Houston recommend reducing the height of the heels and to get those with thicker soles to absorbs shock better. Additionally, gel pads are helpful in reducing pressure at the ball of the foot. However, these eat up extra space within the shoe and can lead to the development of corns.
Sandals and flip-flops
People enjoy wearing flip-flops or sandals for regular activities. Some sandals offer support and can fit orthotic insoles. However, other sandals and flip-flops are flimsy and lead to foot pain including plantar fasciitis. Keep in mind that the sandals and flip-flops don’t have straps for securing them to the ankle. This forces the toes to claw and grip each step you make to avoid tripping.
Doing this puts extreme pressure on the sole leading to plantar fasciitis. Ignoring these issues encourages the problem and will become more severe. Avoid taking long walks in flip-flops or sandals without support to avoid development of Achilles tendonitis or ankle sprains. These result from uncontrolled foot movement. Flip-flops are ideal when wearing regular shoes is not an option. However, limit the time you spend wearing them and choose particular places like the swimming pool.
Boots and wellingtons
Builders, engineers, and farmers usually wear boots with a steel-toe cap and wellingtons. These create wet and dark environments where fungi and bacteria thrive. You’re more likely to end up with athlete’s foot or fungal skin, hyperhidrosis or sweaty feet, fungal nails, and keratolysis or a bacterial skin infection. Wearing wellingtons in cold and wet conditions in winter encourages the development of chilblains.
Expose to extreme heat or radiation can cause issues like chilblains or worse can lead to ulcers. Wearing thick socks in wellingtons is a good idea and to avoid leaky footwear. You have to visit a podiatrist for a diagnosis of the issue and to get appropriate treatment. The podiatrist might also recommend insoles to offer support and cushioning in your footwear.
Runners
In warm temperatures, most people prefer running to stay fit. The warm temperatures encourage people to exercise regularly leading to hyperhidrosis or excess sweating. This encourages the development of pitted keratolysis, a bacterial infection of the skin. This makes feet smelly and can be a great embarrassment. People who enjoy running are prone to developing blisters resulting from hyperhidrsis. Make sure to wear sports or bamboo socks to keep the sweat away from your skin.
Additionally, invest in some over-the-counter antiperspirant to manage your sweating. However, you might need a prescription in some cases. You have to visit a podiatrist for professional recommendations. Running has been a great form of exercise during the pandemic. However, there’s a risk of strains, sprains, and muscle spasms. Visiting a podiatrist will help you understand what is happening with your feet and will help you get the best advice on treatment options.
Your feet are an essential part of the body. Apart from helping you move from one place to another, unhealthy feet will make your whole life uncomfortable. Some of the problems with your feet can result from your lifestyle and the shoes you wear. Hope this guide has highlighted the potential issues that might happen to your feet from your shoes. The most important thing is to always visit a professional podiatrist for diagnosis and solutions to any foot problems.