5 Everyday Activities That Can Cause Foot Pain
Posted on Oct 07, 2016
Despite how often we use them, a good majority of us take our feet for granted.  They get us from point A to B all day, every day but we don't think about them nearly as often as we should.  What's even more surprising is how certain daily activities and habits can actually cause foot pain.  With as much time as we spend on our feet, it's no surprise that our daily activities could be contributing to foot pain, but the causes might surprise you!

5 Foot Pain Causing Activities

  1. Driving:  You might not expect it since you're sitting while you do it, but driving can actually be a cause of foot pain.  Driving requires a lot of different movements and actions from your feet, many of which are not necessarily how our feet were designed to be used.  During your daily commute, your feet are constantly pressing on pedals, hovering between pedals and more often than not slamming down on the breaks in rush hour traffic.  This constant activity and overall lack of rest can actually cause strain on different parts of your foot over time.
  2. Sitting on Our Feet:  It might not happen often, but there are those of us who sit crossed legged.  Sitting on your feet can reduce circulation, and this poor sitting habit can be very hard on your feet and ankles over time.  If you're spending a lot of time sitting on your feet, it might be a good idea to change up your sitting habits, or at least giving your feet a stretch to help reduce the chances of foot pain.
  3. Jogging:  While you might be exercising to lose a bit of weight or just live a healthier lifestyle, your new found fitness habits can have a major impact on your feet.  Jogging places a lot of repeat stress on your feet and joints and can cause significant foot pain if you're not stretching.  To help reduces the chances of pain, make sure to stretch before and after exercising, and to pick out a supportive pair of running shoes.
  4. Standing for Long Periods of Time:  Many people work in industries that require them to be on their feet for long periods of time.  The longer we spend on our feet, the greater the chance that we'll encounter some foot pain.  As with exercise and jogging, it's important to make sure you're stretching your feet but also to give your feet a chance to rest during the day.  Even a short 5-10 minute break can have a major impact on your feet at the end of the day.
  5. Walking Incorrectly:  It's certainly not something most people think about, but the way you walk can have a major impact on the health of your feet.  If you find yourself walking on the outside or inside of your feet, rather than rolling your entire foot when you step, you are likely to experience some pain as a result.  In addition, people who have a tendency to be "heavy footed" and step hard when they walk could be placing excess strain on your feet and ankles.
Most of our everyday activities put some amount of stress on our bodies, it's all a matter of identifying potential causes and looking for ways to make adjustments to reduce the chances of foot pain.  With just about every activity, simply allowing your feet to rest and making sure you stretch your feet on a regular basis can help reduce foot pain and prevent conditions like plantar fasciits.