Your foot is composed of 26 bones, 33 joints, and 126 muscles, which are all tasked with supporting your body – from the tip of your toes to the top of your head – and helping with balance, mobility, and lower limb function.

With such a big job, it’s no wonder improper footwear can cause problems in something as complex as your foot. In fact, foot problems are ubiquitous. One in four women and one in five men experience foot pain, while one in ten people suffer so severely they are debilitated by ongoing foot pain or walking discomfort.

At DeNova Health, we see all kinds of foot-related conditions, including: Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain), Morton’s Neuroma (nerve damage), arthritis, Achilles tendonitis, and a list of diabetes-related foot ailments at DeNova Health.

Our clinicians practice a preventative approach to achieving optimum foot health – the simplest solution being appropriate footwear and proper foot support. Together, they prescribe the following:

Avoid flip-flops for prolonged periods

While exposing your feet in flip-flops feels great, the summer-time staple doesn’t offer much in terms of stability. Your toes work extra hard to keep flip-flops on, resulting in the overuse of muscles and stress to the bones in the feet and lower limbs.

When worn over long periods, flip-flops also have the potential to change your gait – triggering problems in your lower limbs and throughout your body including foot, ankle, knee, hip or back discomfort.

Choose shoes wisely

Wear appropriate footwear for each activity you partake in. Running shoes are designed for running, and should be replaced regularly. Safety shoes, on the other hand, should be worn on dangerous job sites to avoid trauma and help protect against foot injuries.

Also, when purchasing shoes, try them on for size by strolling around the shop for a few minutes. It’s advisable to buy shoes at the end of the day, when your feet swell up and reach their maximum size. Never wear ill-fitted or tight shoes that may contribute to foot pain, bunions, pressure points or nail problems.

Check shoes for signs of foot problems

Unusual wear and tear in your shoes can be symptomatic of foot problems. If the heels are worn on the inside edge, you could be pronating and require the support of orthotics or a custom orthotics assessment. If there are swirl patterns on the soles, you may be experiencing metatarsalgia, which is painful on the balls of your feet and may benefit from professional foot care guidance.