Foot Pain Culprit: Flats

Breaking news! The culprit for aching feet has been found! They have been identified as flats. It has been revealed that the shoes that were once thought to be more comfortable and supportive than their arch nemesis (i.e. high heels) can actually cause just as many problems. Read on for more information. Why flats are to blame for your foot pain:

• Lack of arch support – Most flats, from ballerina flats to flip-flops, usually don’t have arch support built into the shoes. If you are prone to overpronation, flats will encourage the feet to flatteninward. You can suffer from problems related to flat feet, as well as strained ligament injuries like plantar fasciitis.
• Lack of cushion in the soles – Typical impact on the feet from walking or standing for a long time without adequate cushioning can cause pain on the soles of the feet. The plantar fascia and heel bones can be affected by the repetitive impact. Wearing shoes long-term can cause problems with pressure on the Achilles tendon, and cause bone spurs to develop.
• Tight, narrow toe boxes – Most closed-toed shoes tend to be tight around the toes, sides, and even at the back of the heel. It can cause problems like ingrown toenails, corns, calluses, blisters, neuromas, bunions, hammertoes, and/or curly toes. If you buy closed-toed flats, be sure that it is comfortable when you first try them on, since not all shoes will “break in.”