It would be difficult for our expert podiatrists to say unequivocally that running is bad for your feet. Is it hard on your feet? Yes, of course. Runners challenge their feet with each pounding stride. Muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, cartilage – the many complex structures compacted into two relatively small areas at the base of your body – they all take a beating. Running is only “bad” if you’re not careful to protect all of the parts that make up your two fantastic feet.

Running will harm your feet if you do any of the following:

• run in poorly-made shoes
• run in shoes that don’t fit you
• don’t replace your running shoes when they’re worn out (after about 400 miles)
• run with poor technique
• begin your training too fast or too far
• always train on hard surfaces
• forget to stretch before and after running
• ignore existing biomechanical issues that you may have inherited, such as feet that overpronate or underpronate

In all of these circumstances, you can cause inflammation or injury to your feet or ankles. Some of the most common running injuries we see here at Montgomery Foot Care Specialists are tendonitis, plantar fasciitis (heel pain), bone spurs, blisters, shin splints, stress fractures, and bone bruises. You can avoid many of these sidelining injuries simply by wearing athletic shoes that fit well.

Foot pain when you run or after you run isn’t normal. If it doesn’t go away with rest and icing after a few days, make an appointment with Dr. Heidi M. Christie and Dr. Chanda L. Day-Houts at our podiatry office in Montgomery (Montgomery County), Alabama. We can examine your gait, find the source of your pain, recommend custom orthotics to adjust any mechanical imbalances, and get you back to the sport you love. Call us with your concerns at (334) 396-3668 or make an appointment online.