1. Wear Cups for Heel Pain
Heel spurs are fairly common, and they can cause intense pain in your heels if you have them. One of the best ways to treat this type of foot pain is to wear heel cups in your shoes. You can buy heel cups at most places that carry foot-care supplies. The cups are cushioned, so the bony spurs in your heels won't press against the backs of your shoes and cause more pain. The cushioning effectively takes the pressure off the spurs, bringing you relief whenever you walk.
2. Get Some Orthotics
Fallen arches and other foot deformities are another leading cause of foot pain. In fact, between 20 and 30 percent of the population suffer from fallen arches (also known as flat feet). The absence of proper arches in your feet can put strain on the surrounding ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues, which can lead to food pain. Flat feet can also cause poor posture, which strains the body in many ways. You can correct this position and ease the pain by wearing orthotics.
Orthotics can be bought pre-made or can be custom-made for you by a podiatrist. The orthotics slip into your shoes and give support to flat arches, easing the strain on the rest of the feet, and can also correct your posture. While orthotics won't heal the fallen arches, they can successfully treat the pain and discomfort associated with this condition.
3. Cushion Your Corns
When corns and calluses form on your feet, they can rub on the insides of your shoes, causing you pain. Fortunately, there are several ways to ease the pain and even prevent it altogether. One of the simplest and most effective things you can do is to cushion the area. You can buy self-adhesive donut-shaped cushioning pads from most foot-care supply stores. Stick these pads over your corns or calluses, and the pad will keep the tender area from being irritated by your shoes. If you have corns or calluses between your toes, cushion them by placing cotton balls there. Corns and calluses that are particularly large and bothersome or that are located on an area of the foot that gets a lot of pressure may need to be removed by a podiatrist.
4. Go for Comfort, Not Fashion
High heels are a primary culprit causing foot pain in women. Wearing shoes with very high heels throws the whole balance of the body out of whack. Muscles are strained, pressure is placed in spots that weren't meant to receive it and the Achilles tendon becomes shortened and tight with frequent use of high heels. While it may not hurt you to wear a nice pair of stilettos once in a while for a special evening out (unless you have other structural problems with your feet), wearing them every day to work or school is just asking for foot pain. Keep your feet healthy and pain-free by wearing flats or shoes with no more than a 2-inch heel as often as possible.
