7 Foot Myths

1. Heel pain only comes from standing on hard surfaces. Heel pain can develop for many different reasons including poor shoe support, flat feet, excessive weight, and overuse. Standing all day on hard surfaces can aggravate the condition, but has never been proven to be the cause. Many people who are sedentary can also develop heel pain.

2. Bunions form from bad shoes. Bunions are a hereditary condition that can get worse from narrow shoes, but are not caused by the shoes. In almost all cases, bunions can be traced back one generation or two. Most people with bunions have a flat foot structure, which predisposes them to the condition. If there is a family history of bunions, it is important to focus on wearing shoes with good support.

3. Soaking your feet is good for you. Soaking your feet consistently can dry them out more. People with diabetes are especially prone to increased dryness from foot soaks. Soaking is okay periodically, as long as you use a good foot lotion afterwards. Make sure the water is not too hot by using a thermometer. Soaking doesn’t cure any foot condition, but it can be temporarily soothing to the feet.

4. Your foot shape and size never change, so you don’t have to get measured every time you buy shoes. Your feet do change during your lifetime. For some people, the change can be even a size or two. Women who have children are especially susceptible to their shoe size changing. You should always get your feet measured when buying shoes. Studies have shown that about 75% of people wear the wrong size shoe or the wrong width.

5. Medicated pads are the best remedy for painful corns and calluses. Medicated pads rarely work and often lead to infection. The acid in the pads can eat right through the skin. It is much wiser to seek the help of a podiatrist who can first determine the cause of the corn or callus, then offer the best remedy.

6. It is normal for your feet to hurt after standing all day. Although your feet can get tired from prolonged standing, pain is not normal and is usually a sign of something wrong. What we often find as the cause of sore feet later in the day is flat arches. Flat feet lead to strain on tendons and ligaments, which ultimately leads to foot pain.

7. You can’t do anything about a broken toe, so don’t see a doctor. Actually, it’s risky to leave a broken toe untreated. This is especially true if the injury is near a joint. A broken toe can only be detected on an x-ray. Don’t take the chance of risking long-term arthritis and a poor toe position when there’s a simple way to make sure the bone heals properly