Which shoes you choose to wear can significantly affect your everyday health. Poorly designed or ill-fitting shoes can lead to shor- and long-term health problems. Even if your pain or discomfort isn't located in your feet, your footwear could be causing serious physical pain elsewhere in your body.
At Ani Medical Group in Hazlett and Old Bridge, New Jersey, our team of orthopedic specialists can help you choose the right footwear and address pain caused by poorly fitting shoes.
Ill-fitting shoes can cause short- and long-term health issues. The most immediate effects are usually seen in your feet.
A bunion is misalignment and swelling of the joint at the base of the big toe (if on the little toe, it’s a bunionette). While the genetics that determine your foot structure can make you prone to bunions, shoes that are too narrow and/or have pointy toes typically prompt the appearance of bunions. Moving to a shoe that fits better and takes pressure off of the joint(s) can help, and our team may prescribe splints, or in some cases, surgery to relieve the swelling and correct joint deformity.
Hammertoe happens when one of your middle toes (typically the longest toe) bends downward. The muscles lock up, and corns can develop where the toe rubs against the inner sole of your shoe or other toes. Shoes that cramp the toes can contribute to hammertoe, which could require surgery to fix.
Collapsed or fallen arches are often known as flat feet, and occur when there is tightness in the Achilles tendon. This can lead to incredible pain in the arches and heels of the feet and associated pain that can run up the backs of the legs. This is often made worse by wearing no-heel shoes with zero arch support. Orthotics can often alleviate pain and strain.
It's estimated that around 80% of adults have lower back pain at some point in their lives. Shoes that don't promote proper balance of the body and spine positioning can contribute to low back pain when standing. Evaluation of your normal standing position can allow our team to prescribe orthotics that help promote good spine posture.
If you think your footwear could be the culprit causing your foot, joint, tendon, or back pain, it’s time to seek the advice of the experts. Contact one of our convenient New Jersey locations in Hazlett or Old Bridge at 732-264-8282, or make an appointment using our online booking system.
You Might Also Enjoy...
An injury to the ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, can feel like a death sentence or the end of a career. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. Learn more about what life after an ACL tear can look like, and how to recover healthily and successfully.
One of the most common causes of back pain is a herniated disc. If that’s what’s causing your back trouble, the pain and symptoms can be acute or chronic. Learn more about herniated disk pain and how chiropractic care can ease it.
Sometimes it seems like everyone has back problems, especially as they get older. Is back pain an inevitable part of aging? Read on to learn about how back pain develops, and how to support your back for a pain-free future.
If you’ve torn your rotator cuff, you may not want to do much with your shoulder. But exercising your shoulder may be just what you need to help your shoulder heal and prevent future injury.
Playing sports is a fun way to stay active, but if you’re not lucky, it can easily lead to an injury. Here are the most common types of sports injuries — and how you can avoid them.
When your back hurts, your days can slow to a halt, and daily activities can become a burden. Herniated discs are only one potential source of back pain, but they have a few symptoms that can help you determine if one is the source of your problem.
