Foot Problems That Can Develop Because Of Wrong Sized Shoes

We help treat a wide variety of foot conditions at our clinic, and a lot of times these problems develop slowly over time as opposed to an acute foot injury. These slow-developing foot conditions are typically caused by one of two culprits – prolonged stress or ill-fitting shoes. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at the latter problem and explain why wearing tight or ill-fitting shoes can cause so many long-term problems for your feet.

Foot Problems Caused By Tight Or Uncomfortable Shoes

Shoes can be a large source of stress for your feet for a number of reasons. For starters, far too many Americans put fashion over function when it comes to their shoes. While those little red heels may look fashionable, if you’re constantly wearing platformed heels or shoes with a narrow toe box, you’re going to be putting excess stress on different areas of your foot.

Similarly, if you put function over comfort, your feet can suffer. Many athletes wear very tight shoes because they believe they help to improve their proprioception and their play on the field. Soccer, football, basketball and dance are all sports that often see players jamming their feet into tight-fitting shoes. If this becomes a habit, all sides of your foot can be overloaded with stress.

If you are wearing uncomfortable or the wrong-sized shoes on a regular basis, a number of different foot problems can develop. Some of the most common foot conditions that we see that are either directly caused or exacerbated by ill-fitting shoes include:

• Bunions
• Hammer toes
• Claw toes
• Ingrown toenails
• Metatarsalgia
• Fallen/Weakened arches
• Morton’s neuroma
• Corns and calluses

Each of these conditions requires its own individualized treatment, but they can all be prevented and treated when the condition is in its infancy by switching to a comfortable and more roomy shoe. If the problem is left untreated, conservative treatment options may not be enough to reverse the damage. When this happens, surgical intervention often becomes necessary. Not only can that become expensive, but the operation may not be able to restore as much function as you had hoped if damage is severe.

We can help treat all of the above conditions caused in part by poor fitting shoes, and we can also help ensure that your footwear choices aren’t putting your feet at risk for injury. You can’t always prevent acute trauma to your feet, but preventing problems caused by ill-fitting shoes is one of the easiest things you can do to keep you healthy, so assess your footwear on a regular basis. If you’re a parent, ask your growing child about the feel of their shoes, and don’t just assume that last year’s footwear or hand-me-downs from a big sibling will cut it. Paying for a proper fitting pair of shoes can save a lot of money and foot pain down the road by preventing common foot problems.