Around 87% of Americans will experience painful feet at some point in their life. Your feet endure a lot of weight, movement, and stress, so it’s a natural occurrence from time to time.
Foot pain is more likely the older you get. For those aged 65 and older, the causes of foot pain tend to be a side effect of other chronic diseases. But if you’re wondering, “why do my feet hurt?” and you are younger than 56, it’s likely your muscles.
To be 100% certain which foot pain treatment you need, you need to know the specific reason why your feet hurt. To help, here are some of the most common types of foot pain and how to treat each one.
Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)
Most of the common causes of foot pain affect only one or two areas of your feet. These are:
- Heel
- Top
- Bottom
- Ball
Your toes and your ankles are sometimes included in that list, too.
So, if you’re googling “foot pain causes” because your heel hurts, it might be plantar fasciitis. This means the bone between your heel and your toe has inflammation. It tends to hurt the most in the morning.
Treating foot pain from plantar fasciitis involves lots of rest and foot muscle stretches. You can also take pain-relieving medication, but do not put ice on it.
Achilles Tendonitis
You’ve likely heard of an “Achilles heel,” which is a term that describes a weakness or vulnerability. But your Achilles tendon is real. It’s a muscle that stretches from the back of your calf, ankle, and under your heel, and when you overuse it, it can start to hurt.
Running and overexercising can cause foot pain like this. You need lots of rest and pain relievers to treat it.
Flat Feet/Fallen Arches
If you have flat feet, there isn’t much you can do to change that, and it can cause pain in the bottom of your feet. Manufacturers tend to build shoes for arched feet which don’t offer you enough support.
You can attempt to prevent this type of pain by investing in insoles. Supporting and cushioning your feet with soft orthotic insoles will help to rest the feet and limit overuse injuries. Or, you can buy orthopedic shoes from suppliers like Flojos.com, DrComfort.com, and VionicShoes.com.
Morton’s Neuroma
Some causes of foot pain need surgery to treat them. This is the case for Morton’s Neuroma, which causes the tissue between two of your toes to thicken, making your foot feel painful and numb. People who wear tight and high-heeled shoes are more likely to develop this condition.
Often, surgery or steroid injections can treat the cause. If not, you should avoid wearing ill-fitting shoes and doing activities that flare up this condition.
Also, you can find great insoles online that will help remove some pressure from this part of your foot and make it more comfortable on your whole body; and you can take pain relievers as well.
Knowing the Causes of Foot Pain Is the First Step
There are dozens of causes of foot pain, but it’s helpful to know what the most common are so you can start treatment yourself for minor problems. And now that you do, you will know how to treat your pain and prevent it in the future.
Your health and well-being are important, and it is vital you know how to look after yourself to lessen the chances of aches and pains. Browse our website for tons of fitness and lifestyle articles to help you stay healthy!
