Why Sore Feet High Heel Pain is a Fall Problem for Women
All year long, women deal with more foot problems than men. But when summer turns to fall, the problems get worse as feet high heel pain rises. Why is that the case? During the spring and summer, athletic shoes and open-toed sandals are a favorite footwear choice. Then, when temperatures drop, women start pinching their toes in tighter shoes, boots, and more formal footwear. (Including high heels.)
Want to avoid seasonal foot pain and protect your feet? Join us as we explore the causes of feet high heel pain. And stick with your Westfield, Carmel, Noblesville, Fishers and Zionsville, Ind. podiatrist as we explain how to avoid discomfort!
Feet High Heel Pain: A Seasonal Concern
As we mentioned, a lot of fall foot pain happens when women swap open-toed shoes for closed ones. Why is that the case? Suddenly, shoes are tighter. So now, bunions or hammertoes that didn’t hurt in the summer are causing discomfort.
Now, it’s important to remember that these tight shoes don’t cause bunions. But they can make your bunion progress, and trigger lots of foot pain.
Bunions are most often due to an inherited faulty mechanical structure of the foot. Bunions happen when the big toe leans towards the second toe, rather than pointing straight ahead. This then throws the bones out of alignment and produces the bunion bump.
Bunion pain or soreness most often happens along the side of the foot near the big toe and is often described as a throbbing pain that continues even after you take off your shoes and put up your feet. When wearing shoes that crowd toes, such as tight shoes or high heels, the site of the bunion can become inflamed or red, feel numb or have a burning sensation.
When it comes to hammertoes, though, shoes do play a role in foot changes. With a hammertoe, the joints in your toe stay bent, making it very difficult to wear shoes. But years of wearing shoes that pinch your toes can contribute to this problem, creating a vicious cycle of pain!
Constant friction from a shoe against a hammertoe causes pain and can result in corns and calluses (a buildup of skin} developing between the toes or on the ball of the foot. Hammertoes may also cause inflammation, redness or burning sensation. In severe cases, open sores may form.
By now, you can see that wearing fall shoes can be a pain for your existing foot problems. But can it lead to more problems? Well, the answer depends on the kind of shoes you choose. Because feet high heel pain is directly tied to certain fall footwear favorites.
Fall Boots and Heels: A Bad Combination
For many women, fall is a time to bring back their favorite high-heeled boots or pumps. But that can lead to all kinds of foot problems. A better idea? Check out our guide to buying boots online that won’t hurt your feet. Or, if you must wear high-heeled or pointy-toed styles, follow these six tips for preventing feet high heel pain.
Choose square-toed styles – If high heels aren’t negotiable, at least swap pointy-toed styles for square toe boxes. Not only is this look a major shoe trend for 2022, they give your toes enough wiggle room to prevent discomfort and, hopefully, avoid pressing on existing bunions or hammertoes.
Wear in moderation – Limit your high heel wearing to special occasions, and even then, try to swap to comfier styles after an hour or two.
Choose appropriate footwear – If you have a desk job, you may be able to wear those boots or heels into the office from time to time. But, if you are on your feet all day, wear a supportive shoe and keep heel heights to no more than 1 ½ inches.
Try padding – When you wear heels for too long, that puts lots of pressure on the balls of your feet. Tight shoes can also rub at your heels. To prevent blisters or foot pain at the end of the night, try adding pads to shoes in strategic pressure points.
Listen to your body – If any of your fall footwear seems to make your feet hurt, stop wearing those shoes right away. Ask us if supportive custom orthotics can help make them more wearable. But if not, consider recycling the pair to save your feet.
Come in for a visit. Have you noticed that fall foot pain isn’t going away after a day or two? It could be more than a seasonal concern. Schedule an immediate appointment with Dr. David Sullivan before foot pain becomes a year-round concern!