5 Reasons Your Feet Hurt and What You Can Do About It

(Hint: Wide-Fitting Shoes Could Help) If you've ever experienced foot pain, you're not alone. Whether it’s a dull ache after a long day or sharp discomfort every time you step, sore feet can make daily activities challenging. What many people don’t realise is that their footwear is often the root cause. Shoes that don’t fit properly or are poorly designed for your unique foot shape can cause pain, discomfort, and long-term foot problems. One of the best ways to alleviate and prevent foot pain is to ensure that you’re wearing the correct footwear for your feet. Shoes that allow your feet to rest comfortably without being squeezed into shapes they weren’t meant to endure, have the right features and accommodate any foot health issues you might encounter. Let’s explore the top five reasons your feet might be hurting and how wide-fitting shoes can provide relief.

Why are your feet hurting? Many people are wearing the wrong shoe size or width without even knowing it. In fact, one study by The National Library of Medicine showed that a staggering 72% of people may be wearing the wrong size shoe*! One reason for this is that feet change shape as we age. Over time, ligaments and tendons loosen, arches may fall, and feet tend to spread out. Even if you wore a certain shoe size for years, that doesn’t mean it’s still the right size for you today. Shoes that are too tight or too narrow can cause pain, pressure, and even joint issues. Another reason is that many people simply do not know that wide fitting shoes exist, or that they need wide-fitting shoes. So, if you’ve ever thought to yourself that "shoes just always squeeze my feet", or that you need to buy a size up in length to get the extra width that you need, then this is most certainly you! By the way, neither of those options are a good solution! Wearing shoes that don't fit properly can lead to a range of problems, from simple discomfort to issues like ingrown toenails, hammer toes, and other painful foot conditions to having a direct and long-lasting impact on the bio-mechanics of your body, including posture problems, knee issue, back problems and more. The right fit really is that important. What can you do about it? Get your feet measured regularly, especially if you haven’t done so in a while. And, if required, ensure that you’re choosing wide-fitting shoes that match your width fitting. Wide-fitting shoes come in various widths to ensure the perfect fit. They offer more room across the foot, preventing the squeezing and pinching that often occurs with narrower shoes. Choosing wide-fitting shoes in the correct size allows your feet the space they need to stay comfortable and supported all day long.

Here at DB Wider Fit Shoes, we offer women’s and men’s shoes for people needing from E to 8E (that’s EEEEEEEE) width fitting – the widest and deepest shoes on the market. All of our shoes are wider and deeper than regular high street shoes and most are available in variable width fittings, meaning that each shoe can be individually adjusted to fit your feet if, for instance, one foot swells more than the other, or an issue is only felt on one foot. You can measure your feet at home using our Online Fit Finder or choose to visit an independent DB Wider Fit Shoes stockist to be fitted for our shoes.

Why are your feet hurting? Believe it or not, your toes may not be shaped like the shoes you're wearing. Many traditional shoe designs have a narrow or pointed toe box, which forces your toes into an unnatural position, or it could be that you have one of the toe shapes below that require a different shaped toe-box on your shoes to ensure enough room for toes to move and spread. Over time, this compression can lead to discomfort, inflammation, and even long-term damage. The shape of your feet and toes is unique, and not all shoes are designed with this in mind. If you’ve ever experienced pain at the front of your foot or felt like your toes were cramped and squished together, your shoe’s toe box may be too narrow.

What can you do about it? Switching to wide-fitting shoes can make a big difference as they feature a roomier toe box but, more than this, choosing shoes with the correct toe shape for your foot is a must. This will ensure enough room for your toes, allowing them to spread naturally. This reduces pressure, prevents discomfort, and helps maintain proper foot alignment. They can also relieve pain and prevent problems like blisters, calluses, and corns. Step 1. Discover your toe shape. Step 2. Once you know your foot shape, understand the toe shape most suited to your feet, using the guide above. We offer shoes in 5 toe shapes for women (round, square, asymmetric, almond and pointed) and 3 toe shapes for men (round, almond and square). Step 3. Use the menu filters on our website to choose shoes in your required toe shape or look for the respective icons in our brochure. Discover round toed shoes like loafer Mustang or casual style Sinead, Almond toed trainers like Cockatoo or Antelope, square toed styles like casual Culver or dress ankle boot Carrie, or asymmetric shaped shoes and boots like Taylor or Buckingham.

Why are your feet hurting? Did you know that your feet naturally swell as the day goes on, especially if you’ve been on your feet for long periods? You may sometimes get home and feel an enormous sense of relief and freedom when you sit down and take off your shoes! That is because your feet have swollen and your shoes are preventing them from doing so. This swelling of feet can be due to standing, walking, hot weather, or even certain health conditions. If your shoes aren’t adjustable, they can start to pinch and squeeze as your feet swell. This can lead to discomfort, inflammation, and pain by the end of the day. Shoes that feel comfortable in the morning may become unbearable by the afternoon if they don't have the flexibility to accommodate changes in foot size. What can you do about it? If your feet swell through the day then wide-fitting shoes with adjustable features, such as laces, straps, or elastic panels are ideal for this issue. These shoes allow you to modify the fit as your feet swell, ensuring consistent comfort throughout the day. Additionally, look for shoes made from stretchy or breathable materials that can adapt to changes in foot shape and size, preventing pressure and pain. We offer a range of fastening options to suit all needs, including laces fastenings (many with inside zip for easy access), a variety of strap fastenings, such as laid-on adjustable touch fastening straps, buckle fastening straps, pull-back and D-ring fastenings, or a host of slip-on styles with elasticated gussets or top-lines for improved fit.

Why are your feet hurting? Foot health problems such as plantar fasciitis, arthritis, diabetes complications, or pregnancy-related swelling can all cause significant discomfort. If you’re experiencing foot pain due to one of these conditions, wearing narrow or poorly fitting shoes can exacerbate the issue. For example, swollen feet from pregnancy or health issues like lymphoedema need extra room, while conditions like plantar fasciitis require specific support. Ill-fitting shoes can worsen your condition, making it harder for you to move comfortably and putting unnecessary pressure on sensitive areas of your feet. What can you do about it? Our wide and extra-wide fitting shoes are designed not only to offer more space and support for feet affected by health conditions, they also include special design features to accommodate certain conditions. For instance, our bunion-friendly shoes include roomy toe-boxes and soft materials that allow give to prevent rubbing; our diabetes-friendly shoes include seam-free toe boxes and secure fastening systems to ensure a good fit and reduce rubbing. Our shoes for lymphoedema offer plenty of room, wide-openings for easy access and variable fittings, and our arthritis-friendly shoes include the cushioning and support you need alongside features ensuring they’re easy to fasten and adjust. Read our blogs on wide-fitting shoes for a variety of medical conditions and ensure that you are choosing the right footwear for your condition. Our shoes include extra width and depth as standard but also look for options with cushioned insoles or air-bubble soles and our variable fitting styles with specially designed removable insoles that can offer extra depth to accommodate any swelling or special orthotics you may need – ideal for issues like plantar fasciitis or fallen arches. Shoes with a wide fit also ensure that your feet won’t be unnecessarily constricted, helping reduce pain and improve your mobility.

Why are your feet hurting? If you’ve recently had foot surgery or are pregnant, your feet can undergo significant changes. Pregnancy often causes feet to swell, and hormonal changes can lead to a flattening of the arch, resulting in a permanent change in foot size. Similarly, foot surgeries can alter the shape and structure of your feet, making it difficult to fit into your old shoes. Attempting to squeeze your post-surgery or pregnancy feet into shoes that no longer fit can lead to pain and further damage. What can you do about it? After surgery or during pregnancy, it’s crucial to wear wide-fitting shoes that provide extra room for your feet. Opt for shoes with cushioned soles, soft uppers, and adjustable straps, like classic soft leather boot Goldcrest, to ensure maximum comfort. Wide-fitting shoes will give your feet the space they need to heal or accommodate swelling, allowing you to move pain-free.

Foot pain can often be traced back to the shoes you’re wearing. Whether your shoes are too tight, narrow, or poorly designed, they could be the culprit behind your discomfort. Wide-fitting shoes offer a practical solution, providing the space, support, and flexibility your feet need to stay comfortable all day long. By investing in wide-fitting shoes with the features that accommodate your unique foot shape, size, and health needs, you can reduce or even eliminate foot pain. So, if you're tired of sore, aching feet, it might be time to make the switch. After all, your feet deserve to feel as good as they look! Browse all our wide-fitting shoes, trainers and slippers and for men and women now: Wide-fitting shoes, boots, trainers and slippers for ladies > Wide-fitting shoes, boots, trainers and slippers for men >

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