The foot is one of the most complex and intricate structures in the human body. There are twenty-six bones, thirty-three joints, and a daedal web of over one hundred and twenty different muscles, nerves, and ligaments. There is good reason for this elaborate design. The foot performs several important functions, which include: supporting the weight of the body, absorbing shock, acting as a lever to move the leg and body forward, and maintaining proper balance.
One explanation for the incredible intricacy of the foot is that it is rather small compared with the rest of the body. It is only a few inches bigger than the hand, and yet, could you imagine walking around all day on your hands? The impact that each and every step has on the foot boggles the mind. It is said that the force of a single step is about fifty percent greater than that person's total body weight. So, if you weigh two hundred pounds, you are putting three hundred pounds of pressure on your foot each time you take a step. No wonder we need shoes!
Oh, and we forgot to mention that the average person takes nine thousand steps each day and spends about four hours on his feet. People smarter than us have done the math and they have determined that the feet support a cumulative weight of over one hundred tons each day. That's the rough equivalent of four fully-loaded tractor trailers on your feet every day!
Foot Pain 101
Given what our feet must endure, it is no wonder that 3 out of every 4 Americans experience foot pain during their lives. While most foot pain is nothing more than an uncomfortable nuisance, chronic and severe foot pain affects one in seven older Americans. This type of pain often inhibits the patient's ability to move around. To make matters worse, lower back pain is a common symptom of chronic foot pain.
Podiatrists reliably inform us that foot pain often affects one of three areas-the toes, the hindfoot, and the forefoot. The reason these areas are the most commonly affected is because they absorb the most forces and pressure. When it comes to pressure, we are speaking about the toes.
The toes are often injured by ill-fitting shoes. Both the forefoot and the hindfoot absorb tons of force each and every day. They also contain dozens of bones on which bone spurs may form over time. A bone spur is an overgrowth of bone that can cause discomfort and pain. They are the most common cause of foot pain.
Dealing with Foot Pain
Believe it or not, most minor foot pain is caused by ill-fitting shoes. This includes specialty footwear like high-heels. Because they put tremendous pressure on the toes and make the hindfoot absorb all of the pressure of the step, high-heeled shoes are probably the worst thing to happen to the foot since bastinadoing (or toe socks). Perhaps that is why women suffer from minor and chronic foot pain at a higher rate than men do.
It's the shoes, right?
Foot pain is also caused by wearing the wrong type of shoes for the wrong type of activity. Really, there's a reason why athletic shoe makers sell billions of dollars of footwear each year. These shoes were designed to protect the feet while the user competes in his preferred sport. Sports or activities that are high-impact require more padding or support in certain areas. For instance, a marathon runner absorbs an incredible amount of force on his hindfoot, which is why professional running shoes are designed to absorb force. Wearing the wrong type of shoes can cause or even aggravate an existing injury.
The most common injuries that may result from wearing the wrong types of shoes are calluses, blisters, corns, muscle cramps, plantar fasciitis, knee and ankle injuries, and metatarsalgia. Let's take a moment to discuss a few of these injuries and the footwear that can help alleviate pain and treat the injury.
Corns/Calluses
Corns are really nothing more than hardened dead skin around the toes that often turns yellow and causes pain and irritation. Podiatrists recommend a wide, box-toed shoe that has soft cushions under the ball of the foot. A simple gel insole or doughnut-shaped pad may also work for corns.
Ingrown Toenails
When the nails curl into the skin and cause pain, swelling, and possibly even an infection, you will need to see the doctor. More often than not, she will have you walk around in sandals or in open-toed shoes for a few weeks.
Bunions
There are several different kinds of bunions, but the most common one occurs when a bony bump forms at the base of the big toe or hallux. Again, the podiatrist will recommend sandals or soft, wide-toed shoes. If the case is a serious one, he might prescribe bunion shields or splints.
Metatarsalgia
Metatarsalgia is an acute, chronic, and often painful condition of unknown origin that affects the ball of the foot. The doctor will prescribe special orthopedic shoes to help patients deal with the pain.
For Everyone Else
If you do not suffer from a specific injury, the best shoes to wear on a daily basis should be well cushioned with a stiff heel that can absorb impact. The area around the ball of the foot should be flexible and should offer the toes ample wiggle room, at least half of an inch. New shoes shoe feel comfortable from the start and should not have to be broken in.
Comfort shoes are a great option for sufferers of foot pain. Find your perfect pair today.
Miguel Bautista is a freelance writer who writes about a variety of topics including comfort shoes.
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