Foot pain can be caused by a variety of ailments depending on your lifestyle and the type of care you take of your feet. Caring for your feet also includes wearing footwear that fits you properly and has some kind of support. Unfortunately, some of the more "comfortable shoes" are often the culprits in making your feet hurt.
Shoes like high heels that are too narrow at the toes can squish your metatarsal bones together and create problems. Sandals and other flat surface shoes like slippers and sheepskin boots can cause flat feet after time, because your feet are adaptive. They will, over time, mold themselves into the position you put them into. Flat surface shoes may lead to flat feet.
Here is a list of some of the more common things that can hurt your feet, and how arch supports can help.
Metatarsal & Nerve Problems
Metatarsal problems occur when the foot is absorbing too much of the shock waves created by the body while walking and when the body is out of proper alignment. Nerves can then be pinch and inflamed due to the body trying to compensate. Arch supports support the foot, lift the arch and hold it in an ideal foot position.
Bunions
Bunions are the bump on the side of the big toe that is usually a swollen bursal sac or a bony deformity growing off of the toe joint. Arch supports help by support the ball of the foot and allow the toes to spread out naturally, which can relieve the pain from bunions.
Hammertoes
Hammertoes are the result of an imbalanced foot. The toes try to overcompensate for the lack of balance and grip the floor in order to balance the body. The toes then develop a bend in the second joint making the toe look like a hammer. Arch supports hold the feet in their natural position, dispersing your body weight properly, which allows the toes to spread out naturally and relax.
Neuromas
Neuromas in the foot refer to the thickening of the nerves between the third and fourth toes. Tingling, numbness and sharp pains have been reported by sufferers. Women often complain of these due to their high heels compressing the metatarsals (toes).
Pronation & Supination
Pronation occurs when the foot turns inward too much and the joints become loose. Supination is when the foot turns outward too much and becomes stiff and unable to act as a shock for the body. Personally sized arch supports cradle your feet and hold the foot in its most ideal position, keeping it from rolling too far either way
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis occurs when the planter fascia (fiberous tendon along the underside of the foot) become torn, irritated or inflamed. It is very common to feel a sharp pain in the back of the foot on your first step in the morning. Arch Supports can help by holding and supporting the foot in its most ideal position, dispersing your body weight properly throughout your feet.
Hopefully, I've answered the "Why do my feet hurt?" question, with the added benefit of explaining how personally fit arch supports can alleviate a lot of the causes of foot pain.
