The last thing you want to do when your feet hurt is to be on them all day. One of the best feelings in the world is when your feet hurt and you first sit down. All of a sudden a wave of relief starts at the very tip of your toes and floods through your entire body. Ahhhhh, relief!
For most, sitting down and kicking up your feet isn’t an option. As a society, we are busy people. We are on the move all of the time whether it is running carpool, waiting tables, realtors showing houses, nurses and doctors helping patients, school teachers or folks that just need to get their stuff done. The funny thing is that not too many people stop during the day and think, “wow, my feet feel great today”. When our feet don’t hurt, we don’t really think about it. BUT, when you have sore feet that hurt, you really can’t think of anything else except those aching feet.
Dr. Langer from Twin Cities Orthopedics says that, “minor aches and pains often resolve with nsaids, Tylenol and some rest. Also, wearing comfortable and supportive shoes until pain resolves can help too. If minor pain has not improved or resolved in 5-7 days or the pain is accompanied by swelling or bruising, make an appointment with your doctor”.
We see customers in our stores every day that are experiencing foot pain. Surprisingly enough one of the easiest ways to relieve foot pain is to get your feet measured. You would not believe the number of people we see every single day that are wearing the wrong size shoe. The size of your feet change many times over the course of your life, so make sure to get them measured. We are a sit and fit model shoe store, so you sit and we will measure your feet to make sure you are wearing shoes that fit and feel good.
The most popular foot issue we see in our stores is Plantar Fasciitis. Personally, I had a terrible case of Plantar Fasciitis a few years ago. It felt like my heel had a crack in it. Man, does that hurt! All of a sudden one day, it just felt like a nail was being hammered into my heel. I had no idea why this was happening or how it had happened. Dr. Langer offers some common factors that contribute to Plantar Fasciitis as “wearing unsupportive footwear, weight gain, standing/walking on concrete floors, increase in activity (especially running/walking for fitness), excessive collapse of the arch (overpronation), high/rigid arches (underpronation), among other causes”.
Plantar Fasciiitis is a very painful condition, but we need to stay active, right? Life and work don’t give us the option to just sit down and relax whenever we want, so what can we do to keep moving? Dr. Langer advises, ” I usually try to keep my patients active while recovering by using a supportive insole and doing some calf and foot stretches. Supportive footwear and insoles are absolute requirements to decrease strain in the heel. I recommend firm insoles such as Superfeet for athletic shoes and Tacco for dress shoes. Cushioned insoles rarely offer enough protection and cannot be modified. Also, do not go barefoot at home until the pain is resolved”.
Do you have foot pain, but not sure what to do about it? We know that you need to keep moving. If you have foot pain that isn’t getting better, make sure to set up an appointment with your doctor. If you have already visited with your doctor or you have been diagnosed with a foot condition, stop by and see us. We have Board Certified Pedorthists and Shoe Fit Experts in our stores that will work with you to get you in the proper footwear to help relieve your foot pain, whether it is over the counter inserts (Superfeet, Tacco and more), supportive shoes or house shoes and slippers. Schuler Shoes is committed to helping people build a healthy foundation from your feet up. We want to get you in quality shoes that fit your feet, so that you can continue leading a healthy, active lifestyle.
Paul R. Langer, DPM of Twin Cities Orthopedics is a board certified podiatrist who specializes in sports medicine, foot disorders, biomechanics, surgery and diabetic foot care. He has lectured at and served on the medical staff of international athletic events including the Boston Marathon and China’s Gobi March. He is a clinical advisor for the American Running Association, and an associate of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. He is the author of Great Feet for Life: Footcare and Footwear for Healthy Aging and has contributed to three other medical texts.
Dr. Langer is an avid runner and triathlete and has completed more than 25 marathons and an Ironman triathlon.
