How Shoes Can Help with Gait Pain

Your foot goes through a specific, repeatable set of motions each and every time you take a step. Your heel strikes the ground. The full foot makes contact, flattens and pronates outward to bear the load. The heel lifts and you push off with your toes, and then your foot swings forward.

(It’s a little more complicated than that, of course, but those are the basics.)

While the core components of the cycle are the same for pretty much everyone, the mechanics can be very different. For example, a few people barely pronate at all during their stance, while many pronate far too much. These (and other) abnormalities might be caused by misalignments in your bones, injuries, genetic inheritance, and other factors. Unfortunately, if your walking or running gait is biomechanically flawed, it can greatly increase the pressure and pain on specific joints or muscle groups, and even increase your risk of injuries or foot deformities like bunions.

Fortunately, shoes can often be an effective bulwark against the consequences of a poor gait. For very minor flaws, you might even be able to pick something off the shelf that does the job. Some feet, for example, might need a slightly more elevated heel, while others might need more cushioning, a firmer sole, a more flexible sole, etc.

For those who need a little more help, our office is proud to carry a line of Vionic orthotic footwear. These stylish shoes and sandals look just as good as any name-brand shoe you could pick up at a department store, but are designed with podiatrist-recommended features, like midfoot stabilization and added support, that can help you accommodate or even correct biomechanical issues with your gait. Of course, we’re also happy to fit you with custom orthotic inserts that slip inside the shoes you already own, and can provide the same kinds of features and benefits.

If your feet are sore or hurt and you suspect issues with the structure of your bones or the motion of your gait, we have many options to help you feel better. To schedule an appointment with Family Foot & Ankle Care of Jasper, call us today at (812) 481-7200.