Shoes Causing Your Foot Pain? Simple 30-Sec DIY Shoe Wear Test

[@komeshanchetty2250]

Hi Doc. I recently started a 12hr shift job as a yard marshal , it requires alot of walking, with steel toe boots. My left foot along the lateral side and under my foot near the pinky is hurts alot. My right foot seems to be okay it has normal walking pain associated with 12hrs of being on my feet. Is there any reason why my left foot has this pain and my right foot doesn't?

[@davescheider8073]

One glaring question I have that no one a ever asks is why should you have to recover from wearing safety toe shoes in the first place? Most companies that institute this policy fail to do a proper hazard and risk assessment of if the policy will truly be beneficial for employees. Yes it will help prevent foot injuries if something is dropped on or driven over the foot. What is never considered as a balance is the definite long term consequences of wearing safety toe shoes (versus slip resistant and other safety shoes provides). Things such as hip, knee and ankle pain that WILL be caused due to the unnatural foot and toe mechanics that result over time. Unfortunately no one is willing to do a long term study on this. Only found one from Britain that got no press about a decade ago I believe. There is without a doubt areas that the benefits out way risks, but not the blanket policies OSHA pushes and companies blindly follow with short term thinking without looking at long term outcomes for employees that likely only work for a company a decade or so. Thank you for the great information, but maybe give some consideration to asking the better questions up front.

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Thanks Dave Scheider. Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I completely agree that safety toed shoes in most cases are not meant for anyone with a moderate to wide foot and can have consequences when worn by these individuals that are outside of their feet. Maybe that is an area to be considered by safety shoe manufacturers to break out of "one size fits all" and start developing more customized safety shoe wear. Your point is well taken.

[@TheMsiaddict]

Today I got a cheap right shoes for my greek toes. I bought them immediately after trying a pair of them. Usually I get a half size up.

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Shoes that fit our feet are a blessing.

[@mansi27022003]

thanks bro due to your guidance now I am able to play tennis efficiently 😁✌🎄

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

That is awesome!

[@101RealTalker]

Just curious, what about the fact that the uneven wear originated from the persons walking style/pattern, shouldn't that cause for more direct attention? How can an old dog learn tricks in way of something as deeply rooted as walking??...simply being mindful of it doesn't seem to be enough

[@Emka877]

Hello doctor. Cannot stress how shoes are an important piece for feet health. I made the mistake to not pay attention to it and wear cheap shoes all the time, plus not paying attention to shoe wear. Now I have a bunion forming in my right foot... :/ Tldr: check your shoes and don't buy too cheap stuff

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Hi Emka87, I cannot more strongly agree with you! I think that getting appropriate and good quality shoes is vital to not only a person not having foot pain, but in many cases poor fitting shoes or low quality shoes can lead to ankle pain, knee pain, hip pain and sometimes pain into the back. Thank you for your comment and helping highlight this for people.

[@TinaLouise528]

I like the simple look at the shoes.

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Our shoes can tell a lot about our balance and biomechanics but we rarely look at the wear patterns. Thanks for your comment!

[@Hardline43]

What are your thoughts on going to barefoot shoes. I’ve worn a set of Xero shoes. I liked them and am in need of a new pair

[@dazzlingpumppouches]

After my knee replacement in august I must have tried on over 50 pairs of shoes including getting scanned and fitted at a shoe store. I do now have Morton’s neuroma on non surgical side foot along with knee issues on that side as well. I can’t get comfortable. My gait is getting better with exercises and I feel with the right shoe I will be able to go out and walk normal. I have high arch. I have tried brooks ghost but seems to irritate IT band on surgical knee. When I put on my non supportive Skechers which are lower the rubbing ceases. Is this a high or low heel to toe measurement issue with shoes. The brooks has a 12 mm

[@18LonelyRollers]

This may seem like an obvious answer question but as a semi truck driver I recently bought a pair of shoes and after wearing them for less than half an hour I have to take them off because the front just above my toes, of my foot, starts cramping up and immediately I take them off and within 5 to 10 minutes the pain is relieved. Does this sound like a simple solution such as sizing up? I am a size 12 but since I started driving a truck my feet and my ankles have been swelling up to the point where my socks fall off my feet sometimes.

[@sadiqrehman2208]

Hat off to u for such useful explanation

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Thank you so much for your feedback Sadiq Rehman. Your comment made me smile. Glad I am able to help.

[@evehelbarde756]

Thanks ! This was very useful! But if your shoes keep wearing off in the same areas doesn’t it mean that your feet keep having the same problem?

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Great question Eve! And one that I should do a video on because the answer is not simple. There are a lot of elements to gait (walking, running) including foot flexibility, hip muscle imbalances, hip flexibility, pelvic imbalances, and learned motor patterns. Additionally, if someone has arches in their feet that are imbalanced (either from an injury or just how they are) that can lead to improper and imbalanced gait. When someone comes into my office I am evaluating all these aspects to help them balance out their gait and therefore help with their shoe wear - but more importantly help them with their joint wear! We can always buy new shoes but it is harder to get new knees or hips I hope that helps you understand better.

[@tonypuccio154]

Thanks Doc I will let you know how it went I will try tonight when I get home

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

You are very welcome Tony!

[@darkoFNFN]

I wear 4E New Balance 880v10 (I don’t know if that matters). I get pain on my left foot when wearing them, but on the left side of that foot, which I don’t know what to call. I don’t know whether to describe it as a burning or aching feeling. But whatever it is, it hurts a lot and makes me limp. When I stand, that part of my foot hurts, even when it’s not touching the ground. Any suggestions?

[@tonesofcreation6133]

My life will be better now. And I didn’t know it could be. So silly. Thank you

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

I'm glad you learned something.

[@nightmarerex2035]

as soon as i saw "dont let pain" woudl finish off with "stop you doing from waht you love" dang socity is gettign super predictable..... thanks for the information thugh

[@Dim.g0v]

What would you rather he say? And don't let X stop you from doing what you love is by no means new our something that a person wouldn't be able to complete in their minds in the past.

[@pennyteo8379]

Hi Doctor, not sure why I wear plantar insole or proper plantar arch sandal. My foot still get pained. Why. Can I just qear back normal shoes

[@vpfarina]

Can posterior tibial tendinitis also be caused by bad shoes? Do you have any tips or insight on this condition? I know it's debilitating for a lot of runners. I seem to have this problem and actually yoga exercises seem to have inflamed it even more. Your videos are great! Wish I still lived in the south bay! Now all the way over in Europe. Thanks! :)

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Hi vpfarina, That is a great question about posterior tibial tendinitis or posterior shin splints. Many times i find this condition is coming from someone having overpronation that needs to be corrected by an insert in their shoe. The posterior tibialis muscle is the only muscle extrinsic to the foot that helps to hold up the medial arch. When I see this muscle “weak” during manual muscle testing, especially if it is on both sides in a patient who also has pronounced lateral heel wear on their shoes, then I am definitely looking to have them try a custom shoe orthotic to help stabilize the medial longitudinal arch of their foot. I find that 80%+ of the time this takes away their posterior tibial tendinitis within a few weeks. If that doesn’t work there are other pathways I go down to help the patient get relief, but the vast majority of the time it is as simple as getting them in a good pair of orthotics. I hope that helps! Take care.

[@amandalierly1291]

Like it's the left ball of my foot and it gets my toes cramping I'm on my feet 8 to 12 hours a day. Can that affect my right hip with my gate possibly being off? Any suggestions on a type of shoe or a brand that would work well. Thank you for your video

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Type or brand of shoe is really so depended on the person's foot shape. If you have a wider forefoot I find that Altra brand shoes are fantastic. It is usually people with a wider forefoot who get issues with the forefoot area like the ball of feet, metatarsalgia, bunions and toes. I hope that helps.

[@amandalierly1291]

@@PositiveMotionChiro yes that helped tremendously. I have everything you mentioned, and now I have a name to go with it. Thank you so very much !! Looking forward to looking into a pair of those shoes. Thank you again.

[@joanwanjiku5275]

Thanks. Am experiencing pain in my right leg, just along my the upper part of my calf muscle. Stepping (walking) down is painful. However, if I tiptoe the pain lessens. My sportshoes are mostly worn out at the front.

[@joanwanjiku5275]

Kindly assist...

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Hi Joan, First off, I cannot offer specific and individualized diagnosis or treatment recommendations through KZbin comments. so please work with your licensed health care providers to find out the specific cause of the pain you are experiencing. When a patient comes into my office complaining of the symptoms you described I am going to look at a few things: 1. Do they get that same pain if the knee is bent vs. when the knee is straight while walking? I know that is a strange and maybe awkward test to do, but I am assessing to see if the pain is coming from their gastrocnemius vs. their soleus muscle (the two main calf muscles). The soleus does not cross the knee, so bending the knee while walking not causing them pain would lead me to investigate their gastrocnemius as a possible cause of their pain. Maybe a pulled muscle. 2. If the pain is at the lateral (outside) portion of the calf then I am looking for past ankle sprains and needing to facilitate (turn on) the peroneal muscles. 3. A person who is wearing out the front of their shoes probably has a really tight posterior fascial chain (back, hamstring, calves) because their center of gravity is most likely ahead of where it should be - thus the extensor muscles of the body get overworked trying to keep the person from falling over constantly. Those are some of the things I would start looking into with a patient coming in with similar complaints. I hope this give you a place to start working with your doctor to get you back to feeling 100% and pain-free.

[@joanwanjiku5275]

Yes. That's okay. Thank you

[@soiboughtabus9563]

I have the same exact pain. I've been wearing the same shoes for 2 years (if it's not broke, don't fix it). I did your test and my right shoe failed the test. I've gone through at least a dozen insoles in that time and for the last two months new insoles did not help. I already have a new pair on the way. Thanks for the video.

[@soiboughtabus9563]

I got my new shoes today. I was able to finish all my projects that I couldn't finish with my old shoes. Thanks soo much for the video.

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Thank YOU so much for watching and sharing your experience. It makes me happy to know you are feeling better. Take care soiboughtabus.

[@jcervantes12000]

Northern California... goodness that's where I'm at.! Would love to see ya

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

NorCal is so good. I’d love to help you feel your best!

[@Sam-kd8ce]

So what is the solution sir...??

[@amitsharma-fw6cb]

I bought puma softrider sneaker , wearing half an hour, i felt like hell and thougt today my ankle will fracture. I exchange them Why it happen!

[@Das0000]

I just bought Converse Chuck tayler 70 shoes but the problem is that I feel slightly discomfort on my little toes while wearing them. I want to wear them but I want to feel more comfortable while wearing them. What is the reason - is it because they are pointe shoes or because I have flat feet and what should I do about it so I can wear them freely and feeling my little toes comfortable in them. I just want to ask a professional like you but I can’t find someone in that topic in my area.

[@cadenc3055]

Hi when I play my basketball my midfoot bone hurt a lot. This is when I do lateral cuts. What do you think about this?

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Hi Caden, Thanks for your question. I can't diagnose or offer treatment through KZbin comments. So I try to find a good sports chiropractor in your area (acbsp.com/directory/). Is the midfoot bone on the outside of your foot? If so your peroneal (aka fibularis muscles) attach into the lateral foot. From rolled/sprained ankles sometimes those muscles are inhibited and need to be worked on to create lateral stability in the foot. If this is an ankle you have rolled and it is just happening on one side then I would work with someone to check out those muscles and get them worked on. If you don't have this history of rolling that ankle then it could be your shoe width that is causing impingment in your transverse metatarsal arch (especially if you have a wide forefoot) and the lateral cuts are increasing loading on an already compressed tissue causing pain. In that cause I would look to get a shoe with a wider toebox. I recommend Altra shoes a lot for that but i'm not sure they have basketball shoes. Again, this is general info for how I approach stuff in my office, but be sure to work with a qualified medical professional in your area. If you are in the San Francisco Bay area I'd be happy to help you directly in my office. Take care.

[@jericopulvera3503]

Can a slight rocking stability cause issues and pain?

[@ayoubzouggari2141]

really helpful 👌 👏 👍 ☺️ 🙂 😊

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Hi ayoub zouggari. Your comments makes me so happy! 😊 Thank you!

[@GIJoe-nk2pt]

Okay, so I typically buy flat skate shoes, and DCs. When I buy other shoes they hurt my feet. So one-year-old DCs don't hurt my feet at all but I'm not flat-footed. I don't get it other than it works well for me.

[@marym8844]

What about big toe pain? I buy wide shoes but now I am wondering if my toe is hitting the front of my shoes. Happening on both feet now.

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Hi Mary, Great question. Many patients that I see are wearing shoes that are too narrow, especially in the forefoot region. Many shoes like New Balance are made wide in the mid foot but cone in at the forefoot region and can push the toes together.This can lead to big toe pain. I have found great results for patient like that with using something like Altra shoes (amzn.to/367GydE). They carry the width through to the toe box and have been a real gift to patients with wider feet. Also, their women's shoes are built for a women's foot vs. just being a smaller version of a man's shoes with things like their more narrow heel / Achilles area because woman have more narrow heel bones and Achilles tendons and many times their heels can slip around during toe off phase of gait. I hope that helps!

[@marym8844]

@@PositiveMotionChiro thanks for your response. I will try the Altra but normally I wear a D width and I didn’t see that they carry it.

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Hi Mary, I would order a pair and see how they fit. Send them back if they don’t feel good. With a D width foot (pretty wide) I think you will really like them. Keen is also a brand you might check out with a wider tie box like the Altra. I hope that helps!

[@marym8844]

@@PositiveMotionChiro thank you so much

[@amanulhaque666]

I Have So Much Pain in ankle of my foot when I wear football studs while running. Please sort out my problem.

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Hi Aman, I'm sorry you are having ankle pain when wearing your football studs. Unfortunately, I can't diagnosis or give individual treatment recommendations through KZbin comments. You should work with a sports chiropractor, physical therapist, podiatrist, or orthopedist to find the cause of your pain. It could be coming from a past ankle sprain that is not fully healed, a need to rehab injuried muscles or tissues, the need for orthotics due to overpronation, and the list goes on and on. When you find a good doc they should be able to determine the cause of your pain and help you with a specific treatment to get you back to 100%. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

[@nishantgoel5431]

My fifth toe always pain whenever I wear shoes. Can you tell me reason?

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Hi Nishant, I can’t diagnose anything through KZbin comments, so make sure you are working with your doctor to figure out the exact cause of your pain. That being said, I usually find that when people are having big toe or 5th toe pain many times it is that they have more width through their mid and forefoot. Most shoes these days are too narrow. For these patients I recommend that they get try a shoe that gives them more room in their mid and forefoot. Great examples of this are Altra shoes (www.altrarunning.com) and Keen shoes. For a person who needs this width and then gets into a shoe that finally gives them the room they need their feet are ecstatic! Wishing you pain-free feet!

[@speakerknockerzofficial990]

Thank you

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

You're welcome!

[@hanzalafarhan8139]

Sir this problem we want to know how it will be correct

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

That is a great question that is quite difficult to answer without a patient in front of me. Things I look for include: 1. Biomechanical imbalances like overpronation at the feet, glut medius weakness 2. Is the person wearing orthotics to help with their arches. 3. Ligamentous instability and how that effects the 3 arches of the foot 4. If they are a runner, their running style (forefoot, flat footed, heel strike, etc). 5. The types of shoes they wear and are they properly selected for their foot type 6. How long they have worn their shoes... The list goes on and one and the solution is derived from all the information. I’m sorry I can’t be more specific, but I hope that this information will help you on your journey. Thank you for your comment.

[@TommyJosiah752]

Got some dull pain on the back right side of the pelvic bone with occasional bolt of pain down my right thigh bone which refuses to go away.

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

I'm sorry to hear that. While I can't offer individual diagnosis or treatment recommendations through KZbin comments it sounds like your pain is in the region of your sacroiliac (SI) joint. You might find this video informative: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y52keoJ4n8yMoac If your pain continues I would consult a medical professional to figure out the cause and get feeling better. Take care!

[@rachidberkane4916]

Greetings Doctor Greetings and respects, I suffer from heel pain, swelling and swelling of the Achilles tendon. After the diagnosis and the imaging, the doctor told me that you have calcifications in your feet, I have limescale. He prescribed me some medication and it didn't help. I can't walk or run, I feel depressed about what happened. help me Thank you in advance ..

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Hi Rachid, I'm sorry to hear about your feet. Our feet as so important to how we get around and if they are hurting it effects everything in our life. It is not possible to diagnose or offer specific treatment recommendations through KZbin comments so I cannot comment on your case specifically. Please make sure you are seeing medical professionals in your area for care. That being said, if I was in your situation I would be trying to work with a sports chiropractor or a physiotherapist to see if the biomechanics of your feet, legs, pelvis, etc are all working properly. When our joints are fixated and our muscle that support our joints aren't properly conditioned, that can lead to pain. Those professionals will hopefully be able to help you. Additionally, you might check out this video I did on causes of plantar fascial foot pain: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5iVnZKOpJqSmNk It takes through some things like eccentric muscle strength in the Achilles, orthotics, toe flexor strength, etc. that are important when assessing the functional ability of feet. Maybe it will give you some ideas to discuss with your doctors. I wish you all the best and a speedy recovery for your feet!

[@slayerdude212]

My shoes are brand new and the back of the shoe hurts my heel, makes no sense brand new shoes

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

It is more about the right shoe for your foot vs. new shoes. I'm sorry they are causing you pain. Hopefully you find a shoe that makes your feet happy!

[@exotical5647]

I spent 24 hours standing in steel toe boots, and now my feet have been in pain for days. Every part of my feet on both of them hurts.

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Thank you for your comment. I hope you're able to find some relief and get back to feeling great!

[@jsptv2634]

My heel and the said of mt feet hurt when i work makes me wanna quit my job just because it hurts so bad 😞😞

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Hi jsp tv, I'm sorry to hear that your heel and side of feet are hurting. I would definitely try to get in touch with a good sports chiropractor (acbsp.com/directory/) or podiatrist to see if you can get some answers on what is causing your foot pain. You might also want to check out this video I did on plantar fasciitis and how we approach it in our office: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5iVnZKOpJqSmNk I hope you find relief soon.

[@abercrombie1416]

I got nail fungas,wearing shoe made in Vietnam and had my toenail removed!! When l bought them one was rubbing, maybe they were let's say faulty??Has anyone else had this problem like me??

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Hi Aber Crombie1, Certainly when we have shoes that are not fitting properly and are rubbing, creating friction sores, it can cause foot pain. Properly fitting shoes are so important. Also, when we get new shoes sometimes they need a break-in period, depending on the materials (like leather). I hope your feet are feeling good now.

[@abercrombie1416]

@@PositiveMotionChiro Thanks👍

[@graciethecollie1626]

I’m really upset because I’ve just got a pair of studded boots and they hurt.

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

That is a real bummer. Getting new shoes and having them not fit is the worst. I hope they are starting to feel better!

[@astolfo4184]

What the hell was that scream in the middle????

[@rinkyrenu1124]

Hi, i m feeling a needle like pain in my left foot.....its increases whenever i walk....please advise...

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

Hi Rinky Renu, I wish I could help, but no way to know what is going on remotely. I would get in to see a medical professional (MD, chiropractor, physical therapist) wherever you are and hopefully they can find the cause of your pain and help you with a solution. When I am looking for a good sports chiropractor this many times helps me: acbsp.com/directory/

[@tarab7773]

That's called peripheral neuropathy. I know because I have it too.

[@gliderarts3573]

Sperry topsider = pain......

[@PositiveMotionChiro]

They don’t have much of an arch. 😀