Proper Home Footwear Can Prevent Joint Pain or Foot Problems

Selecting appropriate at-home footwear is just as important as choosing supportive shoes for outdoor walking and activities. Caring for your feet can help prevent chronic foot pain and conditions like tendonitis and plantar fasciitis.

Importance of Supportive Indoor Footwear

Now that many more Americans work at home, investing in correct indoor footwear is essential. Going barefoot or wearing slippers may sound comfortable, but these footwear practices have increased the number of patients experiencing foot pain and making appointments with orthopedists.

“All kinds of footwear protect your feet. Over the course of weeks or months, the strain of walking barefoot can add significant stress to your arches, tendons, plantar fascia and joints,” explains Sean Peden, MD, a Yale Medicine orthopedic foot and ankle specialist. “This can lead to a range of complications, from minor conditions such as calluses to major issues such as arch collapse” (Medical Xpress).

Dr. Peden encourages wearing a hard-soled slipper without laces or a hard-soled clog. A rigid sole acts as a shock absorber and minimizes stress on tendons and joints in the foot. A fluffy slipper is an unwise choice for home footwear because it does not provide any support.

Tendonitis and Plantar Fasciitis: Two Common Foot Problems

Wearing shoes without proper support can cause Achilles tendonitis or inflammation of the tendon that connects the heel bone to the calf. This condition can be particularly painful and debilitating if a person has flat feet. Wearing shoes with good arch support can help prevent tendonitis. It is also helpful to use an ankle brace or shoe inserts.

Another foot condition is plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia absorbs stress and supports the foot arch. Standing for extended periods or wearing non-supportive shoes can create small tears in the band of tissue and cause inflammation and irritation on the bottom of the foot. The best way to prevent plantar fasciitis is to regularly stretch the calf muscles and Achilles tendons and to not walk around barefoot.

An orthopedist can often treat Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis in the early stages with non-invasive methods. However, the condition can worsen the longer a patient ignores symptoms.

Time to Make an Appointment With an Orthopedist?

If you have had persistent foot pain, it’s time to see a doctor. There may be a simple solution to your foot pain, or you may need a surgical procedure to get relief. Are you under the care of a board-certified orthopedist? Our physicians specialize in foot, knee and hip pain. Click here to enter your zip code and locate an orthopedist near you.