I’ve always loved the game shows where you pick a door for your prize, so I wanted to weave that into today’s blog about foot pain.

You’re having foot pain, what door do you choose? (PS there’s no wrong answer, I’m simply taking you on a journey that has been adapted from real patients we’ve helped)

Door #1 - purchase new shoes

Door #2 - schedule a consult with a podiatrist

Door #3 - see your local physical therapist

Here’s some excerpts of patients' experiences prior to finding Sergent Wellness Physical Therapy in Louisville Kentucky:

• Purchased new shoes, 3-4 times, exploring different brands and levels of support, often shoes with lots of cushion and fancy additions to “reduce impact on their joints”

• Saw 3 podiatrists desperately looking for a solution to her pain and her inability to stay active

• Received custom orthotics with an out of pocket cost ranging from $300-500

• Saw an orthopedic surgeon for a second opinion and saw another podiatrist

• Painful cortisone injection that did not offer any relief

What do these patients have in common? That new shoes and custom orthotics are the answer.

What I want them to know… Orthotics and shoe inserts in MOST cases are best used as a temporary treatment. A stepping stone, not the final destination to pain relief.

Now let’s talk about feet,

You know, those things that endure your day to day walking, hiking, running, cooking, stepping, lifting, and all the things. The foot is fascinating and often an overlooked area when it comes to self care. A little goes a long way, especially if this stuff is brand new to you...here are some fun foot facts to help you see just how valuable foot care can be…

🦶The foot and ankle is a complex mechanical structure made up of 26 bones, 33 joints and over 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments. 25% of the bones in our body are found in our feet!

🦶There are approximately 8000 nerves in the feet; that’s more per square centimeter than any other place on your body. Hence the reason the feet are often the most ticklish part of the body.

🦶Women have four times as many foot problems as men. YAY lucky us!! Wedges and heels that elevate our overall height and heel higher than our forefoot can contribute to many common foot conditions.

🦶Feet function best in their bare or natural state. An easy way to understand this concept is if you consider how well you could type, chop, text, or write, wearing winter gloves year round. No thank you!

🦶Function over fashion supports longevity and health in your feet; this one is hard to swallow! The further a shoe brings your foot away from the ground, the less your foot can act like a foot. Thinner soles lend to MORE sensory feedback and MORE mobility with every step you take. Instead of suggesting that patients throw out all their red bottoms and wedges, I teach them how to prepare their foot and body for time in their favorite shoes AND what to do to recover after a long day of foot constriction.

🦶In summary, taking care of your feet is a solid first step to optimizing your health!

Want to get next level? Focus on the shoes you choose for those tootsies. Your shoes matter! Just because they’re on the shelf and sold by multi-billion dollar companies, doesn’t mean they are designed with your health in mind. Big corporations make false claims all the time; if you’re an athlete, if you strive to move and feel your very best and continue an active lifestyle, educate yourself!

We encourage our patients to transition into natural footwear designed with the human foot in mind. Cramming our feet into modern footwear brings on a host of problems as it negates the natural strength and function of our feet as well as influencing movement at the knee, hip and spine.

Biggest benefits of natural footwear…

🦶Improved leg and foot strength. Moving away from extra cushioning and arch support give our feet the space to do what they’re meant to do. The more support our feet have, the weaker they become and the weaker they become, the more support they need. This is why easing away from the support is important and brands like Topos and Altras are a great place to start!

🦶Injury prevention. Patients who transition report decreased pain in their feet, hips and lower back. This is because our muscles are more aligned when wearing natural footwear, resulting in improved ankle stability and increased awareness of exactly how we are moving throughout our workouts and daily activities. When first getting into these shoes, we’re forced to improve the quality of our gait (the way we walk) -no more pounding the heel into the ground or mindlessly fast walking from point A to point B.

🦶Restore the natural function and purpose of our feet. Notice how toddlers move, walk, run and play barefoot with ease. Over time we squish our feet in restrictive, narrow, rigid footwear that have long term effects on how our feet feel and function. Since mainstream footwear is widely accepted, making this transition is not easy as these shoes are not what people are accustomed to. Remember the goal is feeling and moving our best. What’s normal and widely accepted is often not what’s best for us in all aspects of wellness.

Happy feet, happy bodies!

If you have persistent foot pain and aren’t sure where to turn next, schedule an evaluation here.