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The vast majority of foot pain these days is caused by footwear; either improperly fitted, poorly designed or just plain worn out. The good news is that this means that the vast majority of foot pain is also easily eradicated.

With footwear, the biggest offender of feet is the shoes with pointed toes or high heels… or quite often… both. These types of shoes put your feet in a physically compromised position by cramping your toes and pushing the forward into this cramped area. If high heels and pointy toes are a fashion must for you… at the very least you should consider only wearing this type of shoe for special occasions and not for extended lengths of time.

Be mindful that your ‘old’ favorite pair of shoes may also be doing more damage than good and have you going down a path to sore ‘footsville’. Sure, in their younger days the support they offered your foot was second to none; but today they are long in the tooth and the support for your foot is no longer there.

The shoes you wear should support and pad both your heel and your arch and have enough room for all your toes with putting a squeeze on them. If your shoes don’t offer this, you may not notice any pain right away, but the effects may be just ahead.

If you have a ways to walk before you have to put on your stiffer dress shoes, consider using a comfortable pair of athletic shoes for the walk before you have to put on those stiffer more stylish shoes. This becomes even more important if you are already feeling the early stages of foot pain.

Foot Pain Prevention Tips:

1.It is critical that people with diabetes see a podiatric physician at least once a year for a checkup. People with diabetes, poor circulation, or heart problems should not treat their own feet, including toenails, because they are more prone to infection.

2.Be cautious when using home remedies for foot ailments. Self-treatment can often turn a minor problem into a major one.

3.Avoid walking barefoot, which increases the risk for injury and infection. At the beach or when wearing sandals, always use sunblock on your feet, as you would on the rest of your body.

4.Alternate shoes. Don’t wear the same pair of shoes every day.

5.Select and wear the right shoe for specific activities (such as running shoes for running).

6.Make sure shoes fit properly. Purchase new shoes later in the day when feet tend to be at their largest, and replace worn out shoes as soon as possible.

7.Trim toenails straight across, but not too short. (Cutting nails in corners or on the sides increases the risk for ingrown toenails.)

8.Wash feet regularly, especially between the toes, and dry them completely.

9.Inspect feet regularly. Pay attention to changes in color and temperature. Look for thick or discolored nails (a sign of developing fungus), and check for cracks or cuts in the skin. Peeling or scaling on the soles of feet could indicate athlete’s foot. Any growth on the foot is not considered normal.

10.Don’t ignore foot pain it’s not normal. If the pain persists, see a doctor who specializes in podiatry.

Those comfy flip-flops might not be any better for your feet than your favorite strappy sandals. Plantar fasciitis, one of the most common causes of foot pain, happens when the fibrous band of tissue (fascia) that connects your heel to your toes becomes painful and inflamed—and lack of adequate arch support can be a culprit. Because this band tightens overnight, daily stretching first thing in the morning can help, says Edward Laskowski, MDMD, codirector of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center in Minnesota.

While sitting, grasp your toes and gently pull them toward you until you feel a stretch in the arch; repeat with the other foot. If that’s not helping, ask a podiatrist about orthotics or night splints (which lengthen the fascia and Achilles tendon). And ditch those flat flip-flops and sky-high stillettos for shoes with a 1- to 2-inch heel and good arch support.