“Stay Home-Stay Safe” Hasn’t Necessarily Worked for Feet
Podiatrists all over the globe have noted a marked increase in the number of patients with shoe-related foot pain over the last several weeks. From San Francisco to London, Johannesburg to Sydney, and even in our corner of the world serving Portage, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Summit Counties – feet have been the unsuspecting victim of unsupportive shoes.
Since the start of the global pandemic, folks have been spending excessive amounts of time wearing their “indoor” shoes. Here’s what podiatrists report:
- People have spent these last few months shuffling around the house in flat slippers and slides that don’t conform well to their feet.
- Swishing around the house in fuzzy, stretched-out slippers means it’s likely they’re constantly gripping at them with their toes just to keeping them from slipping off, creating repetitive stress injuries.
- When they have ventured out to the grocery store or for other essentials, they’ve chosen to put on “Ugg” style boots – easy and convenient, but unsupportive.
- Swapping one’s office shoes for plushy comfort is causing problems like arch pain, heel pain, and flattened arches. And it’s not just new foot pain we’re seeing: if you’ve had plantar fasciitis in the past, it can quickly rear its ugly head once again if you spend many hours in footwear with lousy arch support.
In the long term, feet function best in shoes made of quality materials that offer excellent support. Wear slippers that advertise “built-in arch support” or bear the seal of approval from the American Podiatric Medical Association. Click here for some great tips on getting shoes that fit well and here for how to choose the right athletic shoe. Finally, be aware of what’s on your feet for the majority of the day. They may be at the root of your pain.
If you change up your shoes and still experience pain or discomfort, make an appointment with the expert podiatrists at Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland, Dr. Craig B. Frey and Dr. Megan L. Oltmann. Our state-of-the-art office is located in the beautiful Cleveland suburb of Solon, Ohio. Call us at (440) 903-1041 or make an appointment online.
