Your Summer Footwear Could Be Causing Your Foot Pain

We know its summertime and it is the perfect time to let those feet get some air, a time for fun fashionable footwear and a time for outdoor activities. Summer footwear can lead to foot pain such as blisters, bunions, plantar fasciitis, hammer toes and an array of other issues. Our team shares some insights on several popular summer footwear, the foot pain issues and some solutions to provide relief for those painful feet.

Popular Summer Footwear Causing Foot Pain

One of the most popular footwear items for this time of year is flip flops. They can be a fashion statement or just an inexpensive pair that you will kick off when you get to the pool or your blanket at the beach. Wearing these summertime footwear options can leave you at the end of the day with feet that are aching. Those fun cute flip flops may be the culprit. There have been several studies conducted that show that flip flops can be the leading cause of plantar fasciitis. According to Healthline, plantar fasciitis is the result of your plantar fascia ligaments experience a lot of wear and tear in your daily life. Too much pressure on your feet can damage or tear the ligaments. The plantar fascia becomes inflamed, and the inflammation causes heel pain and stiffness. Those flip flops you are wearing probably aren’t providing your foot the support it needs to prevent this damage.

Another summer footwear culprit could be those running shoes that are snug to prevent ankle rolling. They just might be a bit too tight on your toes. Shoes that are too tight can result in conditions such as hammer toes or mallet toes. The Mayo Clinic defines a hammertoe and mallet toe as foot deformities that occur due to an imbalance in the muscles, tendons or ligaments that normally hold the toe straight. Stretching out these tendons and muscles each day after wearing your running shoes or after a workout can help reduce or prevent hammertoe and mallet toe foot problems. Our My-Happy Feet socks help stretch out those areas of your foot that may tighten or lead to some of these foot problems.

Another popular summer activity wreaking havoc on your feet and causing foot pain happens on those wooded trails with your feet in hiking boots. According to a recent post by Clever Hiker, the typical hiking boot is designed to provide you the toughness and the ankle support and the water protection perceived. They outline some common issues with hiking boots which include

• Hiking boots are heavy and weighting down your feet & legs. That weight on your feet will zap 4-6 times more energy than weight on your back.
• Hiking boots lead to blisters. The rigid, hard-soled boots don’t flex with your feet and they won’t let your feet breathe.
• Hiking boots provide false hope for ankle support. Boots will tire your legs quicker and make your footwork clumsier. Both of which will put you at much greater risk of other injuries.

What Can You Do To Relieve Your Foot Pain?

Wondering what can you do at home to help reduce the pain? You can counteract the effects of wearing your flip flops, athletic shoes, hiking boots and other summer footwear by making sure to do some foot care at the end of every day. Some things like stretching and strength building exercises to better support your arch. Stretching and keeping those tendons and ligaments in your feet healthy and aligned can be done while you sit resting from the day or reminiscing of those summer adventures with a pair of our foot alignment socks.

Take a look at some of our foot alignment socks today, you will help to better align your toes and increase their flexibility to help alleviate foot pain and promote healthier feet. Then get back out there tomorrow and enjoy the summer.