Why Do My Feet Hurt When I Walk?

Do You Suffer From Foot Pain Every Day?

Many people worldwide have foot pain daily. Whether your profession involves standing or walking or you have a medical condition that causes pain in your feet, you are not alone. Many people often ask, “Why do my feet hurt when I walk?” Fortunately, The Active Foot Store provides examinations and expert shoe fitting to help care for feet. We also offer medical-style pedicures, custom orthotics, and laser treatments for fungal problems. If you experience foot pain while walking, you may benefit from the information in this article and the services provided by The Active Foot Store.

Heel Pain

There are multiple causes of heel and foot pain, most of which are attributed to overuse or improper use of your feet while standing or walking. Oftentimes, it leads to a common condition called plantar fasciitis. This condition involves inflammation of the plantar fascia, the band of fibrous tissue spanning from the ball of your foot to your heel. If you wake up wondering, “Why do my feet hurt when I wake up?”, this condition may be the cause of your morning foot pain. Because the plantar fascia isn’t being stretched, most people will feel the most pain from plantar fasciitis after a long period of rest, such as in the morning upon waking.

When a person walks, their foot moves in two different ways to support their body, at least in people that don’t have foot conditions. Supination and pronation are the names for these movements. When lifting your foot to take a step, the arch moves upward and locks into place. This is called supination. Pronation is the movement of the arch moving back downward to provide shock absorption when your foot lands.

Unfortunately, most people are not perfect, so their feet do not go through normal foot functions. Flatfoot (“fallen arches” or “collapsed arches”) is the condition where your arches improperly lock and unlock, which can also cause pain while standing or walking. Conversely, high arches can also cause pain for people since they may have more trouble with their arches lowering for support when their foot lands.

If you’re experiencing heel or arch pain, visit your doctor to receive a proper diagnosis. Treatment for plantar fasciitis and other foot conditions may include custom orthotics, nighttime splints, expert shoe fitting, icing the area, limiting daily activities, medications, or other procedures. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor or podiatrist will be able to determine the best treatment plan for you. Plantar fasciitis is not curable, but like other inflammatory conditions, it is manageable.

Ball of Foot Pain

As with heel and arch pain, various sources can lead to ball of foot pain. The most common condition is metatarsalgia. It’s the inflammation of the metatarsals, which are the bones in the ball of your foot. This inflammation can be minor, moderate, or severe. Wearing shoes that are too tight or too loose can cause this condition as well as overuse and involvement in running or jumping sports.

Pain In Outside of Foot

Also known as lateral foot pain, pain in the outside of the foot is usually caused by cuboid syndrome. This is when the bone on the outside of your foot shifts. Your outer foot bone can shift due to torn joints, tendons, and ligaments. This can happen over time naturally or when there is an ankle sprain. Again, for a proper diagnosis, you should consult your doctor or ask to be referred to a podiatrist.

Other Foot Conditions

The answer to the question “Why do my feet hurt when I walk?” may be found in other foot conditions, including bunions, corns, gout, bone spurs, arthritis, and stress fractures. These conditions can cause or contribute to foot pain and discomfort, especially when wearing shoes, standing, or walking. With proper medical care, most, if not all, of these conditions can be managed.

At The Active Foot Store, we have many solutions for such conditions. Of course, those who are not local to us can simply visit their doctor and, if need be, see a podiatrist in their area.

You Don’t Have to Suffer With Foot Pain

As we age, we all get aches and pains, but that doesn’t mean we have to just live with them. If you’ve been wondering, “Why do my feet hurt when I walk?”, know that there are often simple ways to treat foot conditions, like plantar fasciitis and metatarsalgia, to live a more comfortable life.

If you have a profession that requires you to stand or walk for long periods of time, you should look into custom orthotics and well-fitting shoes. We offer various services that might also help alleviate pain and discomfort, such as orthotics, medical-style pedicures, and laser treatments for fungus. We have experts at The Active Foot Store to help you with your foot pain by properly measuring and fitting your shoes. Dr. Reingold can also examine your feet to make sure you receive the products and services most suitable for your unique feet. Visit our office in San Diego today!