Choosing Shoes to Minimize Foot Pain and Problems

How are you guys doing?

It's the season two of quarantine here in Manila, which means I am officially working remotely AGAIN! 

Fortunately, I was able to move out of my dorm and I found a room to rent which is big enough for me to sleep, work and set up a small art studio. Wheew! 

Working from home is probably the best way to survive through this world crisis. I am more than grateful for the fact that it is possible to work remotely with the type of job that I have and the industry we are in. It also means I can save a lot on commuting expenses, and I can wear comfortable clothes and footwear everyday! Yay! No more office shoes again! (Or until further notice!)

I always take advantage of the times I can wear casual footwear because I love giving my feet the time to breathe and relax, just like I would for my entire body. If you think about it, your feet and legs were pretty much overworked during the pre-pandemic days, right? When you travel or go on a hike, when you do your coffee runs halfway through your working day, when you commute to and from your work, guess what gets you to different places? 

Yep! Your legs and feet!

But are you giving them the right attention and care that they need? For me, the best thing I can do is to soak them in hot or warm water and massage them before I go to bed, especially when my bunions are killing me. I also try to raise my legs against a wall when I'm reading a book in bed. But these are things that I usually do indoors, in the comforts of my home. But what if we have to go back to the daily grind one day and actually start walking out in the streets again? How can we keep the bunions from ruining our gym time or a simple morning jog?

Well, I recently got a guest post from Taos Footwear and they got something noteworthy about how choosing the right pair of shoes can prevent or keep us from some annoying foot problems.  

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There are many different types of foot problems you may deal with, and they can all cause pain and affect your daily life. For example, some of the most common foot-related issues people experience include:

Calluses
Bunions
Plantar fasciitis
Corns

If you’re athletic or regularly work out, it can be especially difficult to deal with foot pain and to find shoes that allow you to be as active as you want to be.

From choosing women’s supportive sneakers to men’s comfortable sneakers, the following are some general tips to keep in mind as you choose shoes that will help your feet feel their best, whether you’re at the gym, on your feet at your job, or just living your daily life.

FIT IS KEY

No matter what your specific foot issue is, the number one priority you should keep in mind when choosing shoes is the fit. Without a great fit, any foot issue is going to get worse. Wearing shoes that fit poorly can even lead to new issues. 

Avoid shoes that are too tight and too short, first and foremost.

When you choose shoes that fit well, it can help relieve pain, stop a problem from worsening, and it can prevent problems from returning if you’ve had corrective surgery. If you are going to try shoes on, do so at the end of the day when your feet are their largest. You might also consider going and having your foot professionally measured because we often don’t realize our shoe size can change as we age.

Don’t buy a shoe that needs to be stretched or that you need to add pads to in order to keep it from slipping. That means the shoe doesn’t fit well.

Avoid Narrow Shoes and High Heels

When you’re searching for any type of shoes, you never want a high heel, especially if you already have foot issues or pain.

If you wear narrow, pointed, or high-heeled shoes, it’s putting more pressure on your toe joints and the front of your feet. If you are going to wear high heels, aim for a heel that’s no higher than two inches.

Pay Attention to the Toe Box

The toe box of a shoe is the area of the shoe that surrounds your toes. You should aim to have about half an inch of space between your longest toe and your shoe’s end. You should also be able to freely wiggle your toes when they’re in your shoes.

The ball of your foot should fit snugly into the widest part of the shoe.

A Comfortable Sole

Having a shoe with a comfortable sole can mean different things to different people. For you, that might mean that you choose a shoe with a flexible sole that lets your foot and toes bend when you’re walking.

Other people want a firmer sole because that then keeps their joints straight. You may have to experiment to find what works for you.

Finally, look at shoes as an investment, which is what they are. Take good care of your shoes when you do find a pair that feels good on your feet. Also, make sure you’re wearing the right shoes for your activity. If you’re working out in a gym, you’re not going to wear the same shoes you would wear on a hike, for example.