Footwear and Joint Pain
Many of us choose our footwear based on visual appeal alone. However, there's
nothing appealing about joint pain. Learn more about how different shoe
styles can impact your orthopedic health.
Steel-Toe Boots and Work Boots
Steel-toe boots and other work boots are designed to protect your toes
and feet from external damage while on the job. While most safety-footwear
will not be the most perfect and comfortable fit straight out of the box,
it is important to pick the best shoe for you or you may suffer from joint
pain and even damage to your toes, ankles, and knees.
When choosing the right boot for the job, it is important to consider the
type of work you’ll be doing, as well as your individual footwear
needs. These factors can determine the appropriate heel height, toe box
width, and length, as well as the amount of support needed.
High Heels
According to the
American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), about 49% of women wear high heels even though roughly 71% of those heel-wearers
complain that elevated footwear hurts their feet.
While wearing high heels every now and then won’t cause significant
damage, it is also important to consider the height of the heel. Wearing
heels greater than three inches can cause a shift in your body weight,
placing increased strain on the inside of the knees and balls of the feet.
Flat Shoes
While ultra-tall heels are often the culprit for joint pain, extremely
flat shoes can also be to blame. When wearing shoes with no cushioning
or support, you may be at higher risk for developing issues such as
plantar fasciitis and
nerve inflammation. It is recommended that you limit your time wearing ultra-flat footwear
like flip-flops and sandals.
Read how Dr. Grunfeld can treat plantar fasciitis in the blog,
The PROS treatment for Plantar Fasciitis: TOPAZ micro-tenotomy
Bare-Foot Shoes
These shoes, with pockets for each toe, were designed to mimic the feeling
of being barefoot while protecting your skin from debris on the ground.
Many long-distance runners prefer the feeling of these shoes because they
feel traditional running shoes alter their strides, causing ankle and
knee pain.
While this minimalist footwear can help some runners, the lack of support
and cushioning is not appropriate for everyone. Because your muscles are
not used to this style of running, you may be at an increased risk of
foot and ankle injuries when switching to this shoe.
More research needs to be done on this trend to determine the long-term
effects of this style of shoe may have on the body.
Orthopedic Care in Gillette, Wyoming
If you have concerns when it comes to your orthopedic health,
Powder River Orthopedics & Spine (PROS) is here to help in Gillette, Wyoming. We can evaluate your options
so you can rest assured that you get the best possible outcome and are
back to a happy and active life in no time.
Call the PROS at 307.686.1413 or visit
www.cchwyo.org/PROS to learn more.