What's causing your foot pain?

Are you wearing high heels? Shoes with heels that are two inches or higher can cause aching feet as well as heel, ankle and knee problems.

Do your shoes fit properly? Shoes that are too tight or narrow can cause bunions. Bunions can also develop from arthritis and flat feet.

Have you been putting extra stress on your feet? If you are experiencing heel pain, it may be due to plantar fasciitis, inflamed tissue on the bottom of the foot. Consistent plantar fasciitis can cause calcium deposits called heel spurs, which can also be painful.

Have you been running on hard pavement? Toes that repeatedly strike the shoe’s toe box may become sore and toenails may even turn black.

Do your feet hurt after standing? You may have flat feet, the absence of space between the ground and the sole of your foot.

Are you wearing flip flops? These types of shoes offer no arch support or shock absorption.

Are your feet itchy? You may have a fungal infection such as athlete’s foot.

Do you have patches of thickened skin? If it’s on your toe, it’s a corn. If it’s on the bottom of your foot, it’s a callus.

Image by Nancy. Sleeping Feet. (2014). Flickr.