Have you noticed that your big toe hurts after going for a run? Maybe you’re suddenly experiencing pain in your heels first thing in the morning, when before you used to spring out of bed with no issues. There are many ways your body may be trying to tell you you’re wearing the wrong shoes, and they may be different to what you expected!
This article explains why wearing the right shoes is so important and explores some symptoms of wearing the wrong shoe. For personalised advice, contact our team at Foot Health Clinic today.
Why Is It Important to Wear the Right Shoes?
Wearing the right type of shoe for your foot or the activity you’re doing plays a large role in your foot health. Our shoes are there to protect our toes, ankles, and feet in general, no matter what we’re doing. And seeing how our feet form the basis of our bodies overall, their health may even impact how we feel elsewhere in our bodies.
So whether you’re playing football, going for a walk, or dancing, wearing the correct pair of shoes may make more difference than you may realise.
Symptoms of Wearing the Wrong Shoe
If you’re wearing the wrong type of shoe for you, you may experience symptoms like:
1. Blisters, Calluses, or Corns
Blisters, calluses, and corns often appear as a result of friction, such as friction between your feet and your shoes. If your shoes are too tight, too narrow, too long, or don’t fit your feet properly in any way, you may develop issues such as these after wearing your shoes. You may also develop blisters, calluses, or corns if your well-used shoes have worn down enough that their interior supportive material breaks down. In situations like these, it’s typically best to use a new pair of shoes.
2. Squished, Sore Toes
Regardless of the type of shoe you’re wearing— and whether you’re wearing them for sports or simply getting groceries— your toes should have room to wiggle and breathe. If you can’t move your toes in your shoes, your shoes are probably too tight and causing your toes to squish into the front of your shoe (the toe box). This may lead to ingrown toenails, a condition known as Morton’s neuroma, or even toenail loss. While your shoes should feel tight enough to be secure, they shouldn’t be so tight that your toes feel cramped.
3. Sore Arches
Your arch is the space between your toes and your heel. Shoes are meant to support this area, but some shoes don’t provide the arch support many people need. Typically, thongs and sandals have little to no arch support unless they’re specifically designed with this in mind. However, many other types of shoes, including running shoes, may not have adequate arch support. Everybody needs arch support, especially people with low, flat, or collapsed arches, and wearing unsupportive shoes regularly may lead to issues such as plantar fasciitis. To try to reduce your risk of these issues, ensure that the shoes you wear frequently are supportive enough for your needs.
4. Changes in Your Stride
If you wear ill-fitting shoes, you may not even notice to begin with. Over time, however, you may notice that you walk differently than you used to. This could be walking slower than usual, taking smaller steps, or even limping. In situations like these, it’s likely that your feet have compensated to make up for whatever the shoe isn’t providing, therefore changing your stride. If you notice this, it may be best to retire that pair of shoes.
5. Your Foot Not Fitting Your Shoe
Too-tight shoes have the potential to cause many issues, but shoes that are too large for your feet may lead to problems as well. If your shoes are too long or too wide, your foot will move around in the shoe, meaning that it won’t receive the support that it needs. Because your foot has more room to move about in the shoe, it causes friction and you’re more likely to develop corns and calluses. Too-large shoes also mean that your toes and the balls of your feet have to work overtime to keep your foot in the shoe, potentially leading to a condition called metatarsalgia.
6. Pain in Your Ankles or Shins
As our bodies rely on our feet when we’re moving around, our feet have the ability to impact the rest of our bodies. Wearing the incorrect footwear may also cause your body to compensate elsewhere, such as your lower back, hips, and knees. This may cause misalignment that then leads to pain. In many cases, people don’t realise that their shoes may be responsible for pain above the ankle, but this is certainly possible, and a common issue that podiatrists see.
7. Pain When You Run
Whether you’re training for a marathon or a casual weekend jogger, feeling pain when you run is definitely not fun. The way your foot hits the ground when you run forms the foundation of how this impact affects your body, including your feet themselves. If you’re wearing the wrong shoes, your feet may be positioned improperly, causing you to run less optimally. This may lead to inflammation such as tendonitis, where you may experience swelling and feel tenderness and pain.
When Do I Need to Change My Shoes?
No matter how well-made a pair of shoes may be or how well you look after them, no shoe can last forever. With that being said, looking after your shoes is a great way to keep them up and running for as long as possible. Generally speaking, runners should change their running shoes after about six months or after running about 480 kilometres, whichever comes first.
However, everybody needs to retire pairs of shoes eventually. Even when you’re not running laps every day, you should change your shoes if they begin to show signs of wear and tear or when they no longer support your feet in the way they should.
Run In to See Us at Foot Health Clinic
Whether you’re a sprinter, long-distance runner, or the most running you do is after your kids at the playground, every foot deserves experienced care. At Foot Health Clinic in Brisbane’s north, we offer caring and knowledgeable services and care for people of all ages and abilities. Book your appointment and come in to see us today!
