Black Friday Shopping Can Cause Foot Pain

Ok, Black Friday Shopping on one day of the year might not be the primary cause of your foot pain, but shopping on that one day can lead to aching feet that night. Really shopping on any day for long periods can lead to foot pain. There are several factors contributing to those aching feet. Some of the top reasons Black Friday Shopping can lead to foot pain...well really any shopping for long periods. Our team covers some of the top factors in this blog.

Your Gait and Changes to it

Your normal gait or how you walk can play a big factor in foot pain and common foot ailments such as plantar fasciitis. Your gait can be influenced by many factors, some of which are inherited. When you are Black Friday Shopping or shopping for long periods, those heavy bags create an uneven balance and can lead to changes in your typical walking pattern. These changes can lead to foot pain in one or even both of your feet as your body tries to compensate for the imbalance.

This shopping season takes those heavy bags to the car instead of walking through the stores for hours with them wreaking havoc on your feet and other parts of your body.

Your Footwear Is Causing Foot Pain

Whether you are doing your Black Friday shopping in the warm climates or you are in the throws of winter, the footwear you choose for a long day of shopping can determine if you will have foot pain or not. Winter boots are one of the biggest culprits when it comes to foot pain. As we look at common boots for trudging through the snow, they often give little to no support, they can be flimsy, they have no heel support, they really can cause a lot of issues, a lot of extra pressure across the bottom of the foot.

Those of you looking to sport your fashionable footwear while shopping for more might be cooking up a recipe for foot pain disaster. Wearing those high heels forces the weight of your body onto the ball of your foot. If you are wearing narrow shoes, this force then compacts your toes into a small space, which may encourage bunions to form and may exacerbate problems associated with existing bunions. Add in those heavy bags and you may have the perfect storm for aching feet.

Then we have the ultimate culprit for foot pain…those flip flops. Even though flip flops are the go-to footwear for many casual outings, these trusty open-toed soles might end up doing more harm to your feet than you realize. While these casual shoe staples can be quite stylish and convenient to slip on, it’s important to wear them sparingly. If worn too frequently or for too long a period, your favorite flip-flops can lead to severe foot pain.

While all of these footwear options and more have a place in your shopping wardrobe, one thing to consider is what they are doing to your feet. Don't throw them all away, you can still wear fashionable footwear as long as you prioritize your foot care regimen after a long day of fashion. Take time each day to work on foot exercises to strengthen your feet, especially those arches. You should also focus on resting, stretching, foot alignment socks and massages for those feet. When style is a necessity, good foot care is a must.

Standing and Posture

With those Black Friday shopping lines sure to be long, you will spend a large amount of time standing on your feet. Shifting your weight from side to side, standing on one foot, leaning against your friends because you are getting tired of carrying those bundles of gifts all contribute added stress to your foot and even your back. Whether it is time spent waiting in line to check out or waiting to get your hands on that must-have gift, your footwear and your posture while you do it can lead to aching feet at the end of the day.

After that long day of shopping, it is important to take care of those feet. Consider a warm soak, ask a friend for a foot massage or do some gentle stretching. If you are looking for some easy foot exercises to relieve and prevent foot pain look no further because our team put together a list of the Top 10 Foot Exercises here.

How to Care for Aching Feet

So after a long day of shopping, what can you do to soothe those aching feet? One of our team’s top recommendations is sliding those feet into a nice cozy pair of our foot alignment socks. In just 15 minutes you can start to feel some relief in those aching feet. There are a variety of other at-home tips our team recommends for providing some relief to that foot pain. Our team shares the Top 5 Ways to Soothe Foot Pain in our recent blog on this very topic.

Our team regularly shares content about foot exercises, common foot pain causes as well as the benefits of foot stretches, so visit our blog regularly or follow us on Facebook to stay up to date with new content as it comes out. And if you are looking for a great stretching regiment visit our store to shop for a pair of our foot alignment socks today.