Foot health is an essential element of overall health. They absorb shock, help keep you balanced and support every other part of your body when you stand. A little attention and properly fitted shoes can often make foot pain a thing of the past.
Common Foot Conditions
Foot pain can develop in different parts of your feet for different reasons. Here are some of the most common health conditions that may affect your feet:
Arthritis
Arthritis is inflammation in one or more joints. It can cause pain when moving, redness, swelling, or warmth. Pain may be worse after a lot of activity or in the mornings. The types of arthritis that typically affect the foot are:
- Osteoarthritis, due to wear and tear
- Post-traumatic arthritis, or arthritis caused by an injury
- Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition
Bunions
A bunion is a bony knob that sticks out on the side of the foot from the base of the big toe. This can cause the big toe to turn inward and become swollen and painful. You may also get a callus, redness or tenderness where the bone sticks out. Most bunions develop from wearing shoes that are too tight.
Claw Toe and Hammer Toe
In these conditions, the toe bends up abnormally at either the joint at the ball of the foot, called claw toe, or the toe’s middle joint, called hammer toe. Narrow shoes that squeeze the toes can cause both. Claw toe may also be caused by nerve damage. Both conditions can make walking painful and may lead to corns or calluses where the toe rubs or presses against the shoe.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is caused by too much pressure on the plantar fascia, a ligament that supports the foot arch and runs from the heel to the front of the foot. This condition causes heel pain and stiffness on the bottom of the foot, often worse after waking up or resting after being active.
How to Choose Proper Footwear
A properly fitted pair of shoes can prevent or solve many foot problems. The goal is to find a shoe that:
- Allows for natural motion
- Keeps the foot in natural alignment
- Protects the foot
Measure your feet every year, as they can continue to grow throughout life. Many shoe stores have professionals trained in how to correctly measure your foot.
Feet can swell up to eight percent over a day. If possible, measure your feet and try on shoes toward the end of the day.
To help prevent foot problems, look for shoes that are shaped like your foot and have:
- A half inch of space between the tip of the shoe and your longest toe
- A 2.25-inch heel or less
- A secure but not tight fit around your toes, foot and ankle
- A toe box that is square or round and has enough room to wiggle your toes
- Proper support for the arch, ball, and heel based on the activity you will be doing
Chronic Conditions and the Effects of Aging
Feet tend to become less flexible and more spread out after years of walking and extended periods of standing. Still, foot pain is not a natural part of aging. Pain in the ball of the foot and toes are more common in women who have habitually worn high heels. Similarly, ill-fitting shoes may contribute to poor alignment, leading to back, hip and knee pain.
Chronic health conditions like diabetes, heart conditions, or obesity may cause foot problems due to nerve damage, poor foot circulation or excess pressure.
Going Barefoot
Going barefoot changes how you walk and how pressure is distributed across the foot. Bare feet are more susceptible to injury and wounds. Walking barefoot may also increase the risk of falls and may change proprioception, the sense of where the body is in space.
Depending on where you get your information, there is research that supports the benefits of both wearing shoes and going barefoot. Suddenly switching to going barefoot more often when you are used to wearing shoes may contribute to increased foot pain and problems.
Daily Foot Care
Taking care of your feet can help your whole body stay healthy and pain-free. To help prevent infections or skin problems:
- Apply lotion to dry skin
- Keep your toenails trimmed straight across but not too short
- Wash your feet daily and dry them well
Foot pain that doesn’t go away after switching to properly fitted shoes may be a sign of a serious health condition. Talk with your provider if you notice severe or frequent numbness, pain, swelling, or tingling in your feet.
More to Read
- 5 Ways for Runners to Have Healthy Feet
- Have Diabetes? Take Steps to Protect Your Feet.
- Treatments for Pain Caused by Peripheral Diabetic Neuropathy
- Is Peripheral Artery Disease Causing Your Leg Pain?
Medically reviewed by Jeffrey Brodie, MD.
