While not every single foot and ankle injury is ever 100 percent preventable, there are a number of things you can do to greatly reduce your risk of an injury. One of those habits that we discuss on a regular basis on our blog is ensuring your feet are in a comfortable and supportive shoe designed for the activities you’ll be pursuing. Making sure your feet are in the right shoe can greatly reduce and even prevent certain foot ailments from developing. In today’s blog, we spotlight five foot conditions that can be prevented by wearing the right shoes.
The Right Shoe Can’t Prevent These Foot Injuries
All of the following conditions are usually caused or worsened by wearing the wrong shoes. Let’s take a closer look at how a simple adjustment of wearing a supportive pair of shoes for the task at hand can greatly reduce your risk of certain foot ailments.
1. Bunions – Bunions are typically caused by ill-fitting shoes that put excessive strain on the side of the big toe, pushing it inward and affecting the integrity and position of the joint at the base of the big toe. Bunions that go unchecked for too long can only be corrected with surgery, so it’s incredibly important to put your foot in a shoe that has ample room on the sides and in the toe box.
2. Hammertoes – Hammertoes and claw toes occur when a shoe is too small. When this happens, the toes are forced into a bent position to accommodate for this lack of space. Over time, this forced position damages the supportive soft tissues that help your toe lay flat, meaning you’ll have toes that are chronically bent. Hammertoes may start asymptomatic but typically become uncomfortable or symptomatic if left untreated.
3. Ankle Sprains – The right shoes won’t completely prevent ankle sprains from occurring, but they can greatly reduce your likelihood of a sprain. Shoes that are supportive and designed for the specific activities you’ll be pursuing (cleats, hiking boots, walking shoes, etc.) can support your ankle ligaments and keep them from overstressing and tearing during an ankle sprain.
4. Ingrown Toenails – While sometimes brought on by poor nail trimming, shoes that are too tight in the toe box can also lead to the development of ingrown toenails. Ingrown toenails can keep coming back if you continue wearing the overly tight shoes, so break out of the cycle of painful ingrown toenails but switching to a roomier shoe that puts less stress on your big toe.
5. Plantar Fasciitis – Plantar fasciitis can also sometimes be brought on by ill-fitting shoes. A shoe that is too tight in the toe box, a pair that doesn’t conform to your foot’s natural arch or footwear that doesn’t have enough cushioning in the heel can all elevate your risk for plantar fasciitis. Have your shoes professionally fitted to keep your plantar fasciitis risk minimized.
Let us help you find the right shoe so that you can keep moving without pain or injury. For more tips on how to pick out the right shoe for the activities you’ll be pursuing, click around on our blog or reach out to Dr. Silverman today.