By: Karolina Starczak

Oct 06, 2009

If you looked inside your closet how many pairs of shoes would you say are actually good for your feet? When picking out shoes comfort and support is usually trumped by how good they look, but those sexy heels may lead to more than a few compliments. According to the journal Arthritis Care and Research, poor shoe choices today may cause foot pain down the road.

Information for the study was received from 1,900 women and 1,472 men enrolled in the Framingham Foot Study between 2002 and 2008. After participants were then asked about foot pain, aching, or stiffness, as well as current and past footwear, the responses were split up into three categories—good, average, or poor shoes. It was found that women who wore good shoes were 67% less likely to have hind foot pain!

When it comes to workout shoes, we go above and beyond to find the perfect pair, but the majority of the time we squeeze our feet into hard, shock absorption free footwear. Don’t forget that nothing will ruin a workout faster than foot pain. Try giving your feet a break from their daily torture with these tips:

1. Bring a change of shoes. The walk to work doesn’t have to include your stilettos, throw on a pair of comfy sneaks and switch shoes when you get to the office.
2. Try insoles. If giving up heels or sandals is nonnegotiable, try a pair of comfort insoles such as Catwalk Insoles to add a little support and cushioning to any of your favorite shoes.
3. Stretch it out. Giving your feet a break from uncomfortable shoes is important, but stretching the calves may also help with heel pain. Try yoga poses such as downward facing dog, dolphin pose, and chair pose to target the back of the calf.

What are your tricks for avoiding foot pain?

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