Got foot pain when walking? Here’s what to do

You love to walk. You walk on your neighborhood sidewalks. You take the stairs at work, and you even make time to walk the nature trails at your local park. However, this love of walking can easily be diminished if you develop foot pain.

One review of medical studies on foot pain reveals that about 24% of people in the studies experienced frequent foot pain. Foot pain when walking can be caused by various  issues, but there are three steps you can take that can help reduce your pain. 

Three ways you can reduce your foot pain when walking

The foot is made up of many different structures. It has a total of 28 bones, and these bones come together to form 30 joints. Moving your foot requires using more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments. Any one of these structures could be the source of your foot pain when walking, but there are three tips that can help you decrease your foot pain. 

1. Change your shoes — Continuing to wear old walking shoes isn’t something you should do if you have foot pain. Older shoes tend to have worn-out tread, arch support and insoles. Wearing in all these areas can reduce the supportiveness of your shoes and lead to foot pain. Experts estimate that most people should replace their shoes every eight to 12 months. 

2. Do some foot stretches — The muscles, tendons and ligaments in your feet can become tense when you walk a lot. However, you can reduce the tension in these foot structures with some easy stretches. An example is the big toe stretch. Start this stretch by sitting in a stable chair with your ankle resting on your thigh. Grab your big toe with your fingers and slowly pull it backward. Hold this stretch for 15 to 30 seconds. Repeat these steps on all the other toes of both feet to fully stretch them. 

3. Consult a physical therapist — Physical therapists can help you treat many forms of foot pain. One common foot and ankle issue they treat is plantar fasciitis. It’s estimated that up to 2 million people go to the doctor for this issue every year. One medical study reports that physical therapy led to significant improvements in plantar fasciitis pain in just six weeks. 

Find physical therapy at Advent Physical Therapy for foot pain when walking 

Have you been experiencing foot pain when walking? Our team at Advent Physical Therapy is primed to help you treat your pain. We offer free screenings designed to reveal the source of your foot pain. Our therapy specialists can then use this information to build a personalized treatment plan for you. 

Take the next step to begin getting our help for your foot pain. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.