Have Fashion Boots Left You Flat?

As winter hopefully gasps its last breath, many of our female patients at Goldsmith Podiatry are complaining of heel pain. If you’re one of those women and you’ve spent the last several months primarily wearing boots, there may be a connection. Fashion boots are notorious for not providing adequate arch support. Inflammation of the plantar fascia, that long band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot from your heel to your toes, can be the result of flat feet or lack of arch support. This leads to plantar fasciitis, one of the most common sources of heel pain. Below are some suggestions for alleviating heel pain.

Start With a Checkup—your first step should be to schedule an appointment to see one of our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith or Dr. Rosanna Troia, at our Upper West Side office. It’s important for the foot doctor to examine your feet, get a history of your symptoms and conduct any necessary tests to rule out other possible causes of your pain.

Get Some Support—if your boots seem to be the issue, talk to the podiatrist about adding some arch support through an over-the-counter or custom orthotic device. Depending on the structure of your foot, the podiatrist may recommend an orthotic to be worn in other footwear as well. It may also be a good idea to alternate wearing boots with sneakers or other shoes that have better built-in arch support.

Reboot Your Boots—if you’re not ready to give your boots the boot, research styles and brands that provide better arch support. While you’re shopping, consider heel type too. Choose boots with heels that are chunky and not too high to also prevent falls and ankle injuries.

Your footwear choices have a big impact on the health of your feet. If you are experiencing any foot or ankle discomfort, contact us today by calling: (212) 877-1002.