About 75% of Americans experience foot problems or foot pain at some point in their lives, making it a common issue. But given how often you use your feet, taking good care of them is a crucial element in ensuring you can stay mobile and go about your daily life with no issue.
But while your feet are going to go through the wringer no matter what you do, certain daily habits can work against your goal of having good foot health. That’s why being aware of potential foot health pitfalls and actively working against them is so crucial.
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“Supporting your foot health throughout the day is important because your feet are subjected to pressure and force with every step, not just during exercise,” says Dr. Melissa Lockwood, DPM, a podiatrist at Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates in Bloomington, Illinois.
It’s not just your feet that can be impacted. “Proper support can help reduce strain on the feet, ankles, knees, hips and lower back,” she explains.
There’s one habit in particular that plenty of people do that Dr. Lockwood says is bad for foot health. Here’s why she’s flagging this as one to look out for, plus what to do to combat it going forward.
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This Common Habit Is Wrecking Your Feet, According to a Podiatrist
It’s walking barefoot on wooden floors. It only makes sense that you’d want to kick off your shoes and cruise around your place barefoot, but Dr. Lockwood suggests resisting this urge.
“Walking barefoot on a wooden floor isn’t ideal because hardwood is a very hard, unforgiving surface that provides little cushioning or arch support,” she says. In fact, she likens this habit to walking barefoot on concrete.
“This can increase stress on the plantar fascia, joints and soft tissues of the feet,” Dr. Lockwood tells Parade.
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What Can Happen if You Do This Regularly?
A few things can happen if you walk barefoot on wooden floors regularly. One is that it may contribute to heel pain or even cause it, Dr. Lockwood says.
It may also cause symptoms of plantar fasciitis, she explains. Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the band of connective tissue called fascia that runs from the heel to the ball of the foot, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). It happens when this part of the foot is strained over time beyond its normal extension, causing the soft tissue fibers of the fascia to tear or stretch, leading to inflammation, per the APMA.
You can develop arch fatigue, too, which leads to a tired or achy feeling in the center of the foot, or metatarsalgia, a condition that leads to inflammation and achiness in the ball of your foot, per Dr. Lockwood.
“It can also lead to worsening discomfort in people with underlying foot conditions,” she says.
What To Do Instead To Support Your Foot Health
You don’t need to wear your street shoes around your place if it’s not your thing. And you also don’t need to cover your home in area rugs. Instead, Dr. Lockwood recommends having dedicated footwear to wear around your home.
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“For people with wooden floors, I generally recommend wearing supportive house shoes, recovery sandals or slippers with adequate arch support and cushioning rather than going barefoot for extended periods,” she says. These shoes can allow you to get a relaxing feel of padding around your home without sacrificing your foot health in the process.
Ultimately, wearing the right shoes on your hardwood floors can go a long way toward supporting your foot health in the future. But if you develop foot pain that won’t go away, it’s time to rope in a podiatrist for an evaluation and advice on next steps.
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Sources:
- Dr. Melissa Lockwood, DPM, a podiatrist at Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates in Bloomington, Illinois
- Public Opinion Research on Foot Health and Care, American Podiatric Medical Association
- Heel Pain, American Podiatric Medical Association
