Walking shoe problem

Getting_Fit_4_Life · July 2011

Did any of you had terrible discomfort on your feet when you started exercising (i.e. walking)? I have been walking on my treadmill and sometimes I go for walk around a near by park. I have been doing this pretty much everyday. I just purchased new walking shoes thinking that the name brand shoe would work better. Well, my feet are still sore after walking 60 minutes today.
Walking might not seem like a difficult excersice for some, but for me who hadn't walk much for the last several years, I find walking a pretty good workout for me as I just started my weight loss journey.

Will this discomfort go away as my feet get use to this? What brand of walking/running shoes do you guys wear or does type of shoe not matter. Just wondering. Thanks for your response.

i_love_vinegar · July 2011

What kind of shoes are you wearing?

I wear keds because they are cute, but I find them uncomfortable, so I have to install my own sole and arches. ^.^ In fact, wearing heels by Marc by Marc Jacobs is the most comfortable form of shoe for me, so I think brands really matter.

Getting_Fit_4_Life · July 2011

I changed from Avia to Under Armour today. The sellsman at Sport Authourity convinced me that the Under Armour sooooo much better.

MissJoy18 · July 2011

I think you should actually go to a store that specializes in running/walking shoes. Trained associates will then observe your foot alignment as you walk. From there they can recommend certain brands of shoes that are appropriate for your style of walking or running. My husband is a marathon runner. When he first started, he was running in a pair of Nike running shoes thinking they were ideal. However, when he went to an actual running store and was fitted, he found a pair of shoes (Brooks) that put his old shoes to shame. He paid about a $100.00, but it was worth it. He ran the Los Angeles Marathon in the pouring rain (more like a downpour) earlier this year and the shoes held up. He still uses them everyday to run.

punkrawkcutie · July 2011

Under Armour hasn't really mastered the shoe thing yet... especially not for women. It could a be the type of shoe you are wearing - walking, vs runing vs cross training as opposed to the brand. Also, do you know if you pronate, supinate or are a neutral walker? All of those factors are what you SHOULD be asked when getting a new shoe. What type of discomfort are you feeling in your feet? It could be a case of needing a heel lift, firmer arch, more/less cushioning. While brand can have an effect on it, it is often more about just getting the right shoe for your foot (which does NOT mean that you have to spend a lot of money, just smart money)

punkrawkcutie · July 2011

I think you should actually go to a store that specializes in running/walking shoes. Trained associates will then observe your foot alignment as you walk. From there they can recommend certain brands of shoes that are appropriate for your style of walking or running. My husband is a marathon runner. When he first started, he was running in a pair of Nike running shoes thinking they were ideal. However, when he went to an actual running store and was fitted, he found a pair of shoes (Brooks) that put his old shoes to shame. He paid about a $100.00, but it was worth it. He ran the Los Angeles Marathon in the pouring rain (more like a downpour) earlier this year and the shoes held up. He still uses them everyday to run.

While this can help, don't discount other stores. Many of the running specific stores have no better tech training then any other athletic store, and are often (not always) based on comission. Just a heads up.

Pebble321 · July 2011

I know how miserable it can be when you have sore feet.
Getting shoes that are fitted right for you is a good start.
Building up gradually can help too, specially if you are carrying a bit of weight and just getting started.
If your feet keep hurting, get them checked out by a doctor or podiatrist. I used to have MAJOR pain in my right foot which turned out to be a neuroma (which is a thickening of the nerve, very painful). Wide shoes really helped but i ended up having to have surgery on my foot.

Getting_Fit_4_Life · July 2011

Am having pain around the edges of all of my toes on both sides. The heel on my left foot also hurt. I even went up a size thinking that the Avia may just be kinda tight. The Under Armour is a size bigger, but didn't seem to be helpful at all today. Am really enjoy walking daily, but this sore feet has put a damper on my new found interest in walking. Maybe I should just take a day or so off and see if it get better.

Pebble321 · July 2011

A rest day or two might do you good. And perhaps start again with a shorter walk - maybe 15 mins to start with, and build up from there.
Well done for getting inspired about moving, I'm sure you'll find the key to moving and feeling good soon

Getting_Fit_4_Life · July 2011

A rest day or two might do you good. And perhaps start again with a shorter walk - maybe 15 mins to start with, and build up from there.
Well done for getting inspired about moving, I'm sure you'll find the key to moving and feeling good soon

Thanks so much

mowu · July 2011

I don't think brand matters as much as some would like you to believe.

What you want for walking is a shoe that fits snugly without being tight - there should be room in it for your feet to expand....walking for prolonged periods of time will make your foot swell. However - beware of using too big shoes as your feet will then "slip" in them creating friction and possibly blisters.

Another thing you should consider is what kind of socks you wear - ideally you should wear socks of cotton or thin wool socks as synthetic fabric is more prone to heating up due to friction while walking. Also beware of how the stitching is affection you. You may need to turn the socks inside out to minimize the friction from the stichings in the socks.

Also - make sure you take good care of your feet. you don't want too callous skin on your feet. Ideally the skin on your feet should be like leather - tough but smooth and soft. You can accomplish this by taking regular foot baths (just use simple brown soap) and removing hard/dead skin with a file.

Last but not least - I don't know how long you have been walking, but if you are just starting out 60 minutes for each walk is actually a long time, and your feet will not be used to it, so it may also be a matter of training up your feet be used to these long walks.

Getting_Fit_4_Life · July 2011

I don't think brand matters as much as some would like you to believe.

What you want for walking is a shoe that fits snugly without being tight - there should be room in it for your feet to expand....walking for prolonged periods of time will make your foot swell. However - beware of using too big shoes as your feet will then "slip" in them creating friction and possibly blisters.

Another thing you should consider is what kind of socks you wear - ideally you should wear socks of cotton or thin wool socks as synthetic fabric is more prone to heating up due to friction while walking. Also beware of how the stitching is affection you. You may need to turn the socks inside out to minimize the friction from the stichings in the socks.

Also - make sure you take good care of your feet. you don't want too callous skin on your feet. Ideally the skin on your feet should be like leather - tough but smooth and soft. You can accomplish this by taking regular foot baths (just use simple brown soap) and removing hard/dead skin with a file.

Last but not least - I don't know how long you have been walking, but if you are just starting out 60 minutes for each walk is actually a long time, and your feet will not be used to it, so it may also be a matter of training up your feet be used to these long walks.

Thank you so much for this input. You are very helpful

margypan · July 2011

I had the same problem with foot pain from working retail. Then after I left it went away, and I've had problems again when I started walking. I'd recommend going somewhere that has one of those things you step on. It measures where you put pressure and then you can get an insert that is made for your feet. The inserts are only about $30 and can be worn in any shoe. I wore them when I worked retail, but forgot about them when I wasn't on my feet all the time. And then I remembered about them when I was in pain from walking each night. When you first get them, ease into them. It can be painful at first, but it's SO worth it. When I got home from work I could barely stand before I got them. After about a week with the inserts, I had no pain at work or after. I got mine from a Merrell store, but I've heard even walmart is carrying something similar now. Good luck.

Walking shoe problem

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