Autumn has most definitely arrived and with it blustery weather. Memories of long summer days, walking in thongs and sandals will soon be replaced with staying indoors in cosy Ugg boots.

A summer of thong or sandal wear may have left you with foot pain or perhaps sore knees, hips or back. We all know it’s easier to slip your feet into sandals and head out of the door, especially when it’s hot! However, your choice of footwear will affect how your body moves and therefore, lead to foot pain, as well as aches in other parts of the body.

How your footwear can cause foot pain

A normal foot position consists of an arch under the foot which flattens out as you walk. This places the least amount of strain on all structures of the body. Biologically our feet were made to walk on softer surfaces, digging into the ground and leaving a footprint. This was the case up until a few hundred years ago when we started walking regularly on hard surfaces. This has resulted in catension being transferred to the structures in your feet, knees, hips and back.

Flat footwear such as thongs and sandals give no support to this foot arch meaning the feet, knees, hips or back are left to take the strain. This builds up over time causing foot pain and potentially knee, hip or back pain. This foot pain can certainly impact your daily life, stopping you from walking around comfortably for example.

How you can help your foot pain

Start by choosing to wear shoes that provide more support and cushioning, you can buy specialist thongs at one of our clinics. Physiotherapists are trained to assess your aches and pains and determine how your unique body moves. They understand all of the factors that could be causing your foot pain.

Free Foot Assessments in March

During March only we are offering free foot assessments! These assessments will help identify the cause of your foot pain and discuss solutions to help you become pain free. Give us a call to find out more or book your session.